Family functioning of recovered alcohol-addicted patients - A comparative study

Regaining the communication, concentration on role conflicts and strengthen ing of emotional ties are the central issues of sociotherapeutic approach t o alcoholism. The aim of the present cross - sectional study was to compare family functioning between two groups of recovered alcohol-addicted patien ts. They were all participants of treatment program where complex therapeut ic interventions were used, and were abstaining for at least 1 year. A tota l of 30 patients with a spouse or partner participating in the treatment we re compared to 20 patients without spouse or partner participation. In orde r to show a different perspective on family strengths and weaknesses, we us ed a multidimensional questionnaire of family functioning, Family Assessmen t Measure (FAM). A significant difference in family functioning between bot h groups was found. Family functioning difficulties in two dimensions: cont rol and affective involvement, were found in families without spouse or par tner participation in the treatment. Even after years of abstinence, family functioning was not satisfactory in these families. (C) 2001 Elsevier Scie nce Inc. All rights reserved.