Emotional cue exposure for alcohol abuse: Development of a new treatment procedure to train moderation drinking in the context of dysphoria

Negative mood states are credited to exacerbate excessive drinking among pr oblem drinkers. We developed an emotional cue exposure treatment procedure and applied it to three problem drinkers who have a history of drinking exc essively under stressful emotional states. All three preferred a controlled drinking goal and received an average of seven sessions of treatment. Trea tment comprised of providing alcohol (priming doses), followed by negative mood induction and response prevention of further drinking. Reductions were observed in the quantity and frequency of drinking, the Beck Depression In ventory, the Severity of Alcohol Dependence Questionnaire (Form C) and the Impaired Control Questionnaire scores. Increments were observed in self-eff icacy to face different difficult situations. These gains were maintained a t the 6-month follow-up. Providing alcohol to problem drinkers in treatment , followed by negative mood induction and response prevention, is clinicall y feasible and may benefit clients who drink under a variety of stressful m ood states. Copyright (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.