Out-patient behaviour therapy in alcoholism: relapse rates after 6 months

Objective: In spite of the increasing interest in out-patient treatment pro grammes for alcoholics, there still exist only a few experimental studies o n this issue. In this still ongoing study the efficacy of different behavio ur therapy strategies is to be examined. Method: One hundred and twenty patients were assigned randomly to non-speci fic supportive therapy or to two forms of behavioural therapy (coping skill s training and cognitive therapy). Behavioural treatment comprised 26 weekl y sessions; follow-up examinations will take place every 6 months over 2 ye ars. Results: Patients undergoing behavioural therapy showed less drop-outs and significantly higher rates of abstinence compared with supportive treatment . Nevertheless. statistically significant differences between the two behav ioural therapy strategies could not be established so far. Conclusion: Preliminary results demonstrate the feasibility and efficacy of behaviour therapy programmes in the out-patient treatment of alcoholism. F urthermore, they stress the importance of professional psychiatric and psyc hotherapeutic engagement in the field of addiction.