Cognitive and behavioural factors as predictors of abstinence following treatment for alcohol dependence

To assess how far causal attributions about abstinence and relapse, drinking self-efficacy, drinking locus of control expectancy and coping behaviour discriminate abstainers from relapsers following treatment for alcohol dependence.

A multicentre 6-month follow-up study.

Mental health centres and self-help groups in Vizcaya (Spain).

The sample was formed by 201 alcoholics who were assessed at their centres and groups on two occasions: while they were in treatment and 6 months later.

During treatment, participants completed several questionnaires related to cognitive and behavioural variables. Drinking problem and background variables were also assessed. Six months later their drinking status and treatment attendance were examined.

Multivariate tests showed that self-efficacy expectancy and long previous time in abstinence independently discriminated alcoholics who maintained abstinence from those who did not. Other cognitive-behavioural variables showed bivariate association with abstinence, but did not add predictive power to these two measures.

The results of this study are consistent with the extensive literature that confirms the predictor power of self-efficacy. Unexpectedly, it did not find independent positive relationships between other psychological variables and abstinence. Given that self-efficacy can predict outcome in the medium term, it is suggested that treatment could target this variable.