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Treating ourselves vs. treating our clients: a replication with alcohol abuse
J C Norcross1, J O Prochaska, M Hambrecht
1Department of Psychology, University of Scranton, PA 18510-4596.
Journal of Substance Abuse
|January 1, 1991
Summary
Psychologists use different change processes when treating clients versus themselves for alcohol abuse. Theoretical orientation impacts client treatment but not self-treatment, with distinct methods like stimulus control for self-change and medication for clients.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Clinical Psychology
- Addiction Research
Background:
- Understanding the discrepancy between self-directed and client-directed therapeutic interventions is crucial for effective alcohol abuse treatment.
- Previous research indicates that theoretical orientation influences the change processes used in therapy.
- Replicating and extending these findings provides insight into the nuances of self-change versus other-change processes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the change processes psychologists employ when treating clients with alcohol abuse versus when treating themselves.
- To investigate whether theoretical orientation influences change processes differently in client- versus self-treatment for alcohol abuse.
- To identify specific change processes that are differentially utilized in client versus self-treatment.
Main Methods:
- A comparative study design was employed.
- Psychologists (n=132 for client treatment, n=140 for self-treatment) reported on the change processes utilized for alcohol abuse.
- Data were analyzed to compare the frequency of specific change processes between client and self-treatment conditions, considering theoretical orientation.
Main Results:
- The study replicated previous findings: theoretical orientation significantly influenced change processes for client treatment but not for self-treatment.
- Specific change processes, including stimulus control and self-liberation, were more frequently used in self-treatment.
- Medication was employed more often in the treatment of clients compared to self-treatment.
Conclusions:
- The findings highlight a significant difference in the application of change processes depending on whether psychologists are treating clients or themselves for alcohol abuse.
- Theoretical orientation plays a role in client change strategies but appears less influential in self-directed change efforts.
- The differential use of certain strategies, such as stimulus control for self-change and medication for clients, suggests a "facilitation effect" in therapeutic practice that warrants further investigation.