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A Prediction Error-driven Retrieval Procedure for Destabilizing and Rewriting Maladaptive Reward Memories in Hazardous Drinkers
Published on: January 5, 2018
[Controlled drinking for alcohol-dependent patients]
Anais Albrecht1, Jean-Bernard Daeppen
1Centre de traitement en alcoologie, Département universitaire de médecine et santé communautaires CHUV, 1011 Lausanne. anais.albrecht@chuv.ch
Controlled drinking offers better long-term outcomes for alcohol-dependent patients compared to imposed abstinence. This approach enhances patient rapport and reduces dropout rates in addiction treatment.
Area of Science:
- Addiction Medicine
- Psychiatry
- Behavioral Science
Context:
- Alcohol dependence treatment often focuses solely on abstinence.
- Patient-centered goal setting is crucial for therapeutic success.
- Fluctuations between abstinence and heavy drinking pose treatment challenges.
Purpose:
- To advocate for the inclusion of controlled drinking in alcohol dependence treatment.
- To highlight the benefits of patient-defined treatment goals.
- To explore controlled drinking as a viable therapeutic outcome.
Summary:
- Evidence suggests treatment plans incorporating controlled drinking yield superior long-term results over enforced abstinence.
- Controlled drinking can serve as a primary goal, a transitional phase to abstinence, or a harm-reduction strategy.
- Empowering patients to set their own treatment objectives fosters therapeutic alliance and minimizes treatment attrition.
Impact:
- Improved treatment adherence and reduced dropout rates in alcohol dependence.
- A more nuanced and effective therapeutic approach for managing alcohol use disorders.
- Potential for better long-term management of alcohol-related problems and improved patient outcomes.
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