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Skill training, relapse prevention, and follow-up: Their comparative effectiveness with alcohol-dependent patients
Abstract
This study investigated the effectiveness of microcounseling techniques, relapse prevention training and follow-up in helping alcohol abusive or dependent individuals develop coping skills. Success of the programs were measured by reduction of drinking episodes and patient well-being. The General Well-Being Scale, Inventory of Drinking Scale, and Self-report Questionnaire were instruments used to assess any changes in patient improvement over sixteen-weeks. Additional follow-up was provided with urine samples obtained from participants in the study. The sample population consisted of fifty active duty individuals and Department of the Army Civilian Employees. All subjects were enrolled in a formal Alcohol, Drug, Prevention and Control Program. Each participant had a minimum diagnosis of drug abuse or dependence as defined by DSM-III-R. The results of this study did not support the original premise; that a combination of the Army's Basic Treatment program, microcounseling, relapse prevention, and follow-up would be the most effective mode of prevention. Findings reinforced the success of the Army's basic treatment program without supplementary interventions. Results indicated that there were no significant differences among the groups. There appeared to be a general degree of improvement for all groups. Data also indicated that age and education were important factors in treatment. It appeared that older patients and patients with higher levels of formal education did better in treatment. No urine positives were reported during program participation or approximately sixteen weeks after the individuals participation in this research program. This behavioral measure resulted in an average relapse rate of ten percent for all groups during the program and post-program relapse rates of twenty to thirty percent. Interpretation of this data could mean that adding any combination of microcounseling, relapse prevention and/or follow-up to the Army's Basic Treatment Program may do very little to enhance treatment outcomes. However, limitations in the treatment, research design, and the population sample could account for the lack of significant results obtained with this study.
Subject Area
Psychotherapy|Psychology|Education
Recommended Citation
Glenn, Hodges James, "Skill training, relapse prevention, and follow-up: Their comparative effectiveness with alcohol-dependent patients" (1990). Doctoral Dissertations Available from Proquest. AAI9022688.
https://scholarworks.umass.edu/dissertations/AAI9022688