Family intervention therapy in alcohol dependence syndrome: One-year follow-up study

Among the various treatment modalities, family intervention is the most notable current advance in the area of psychosocial treatment of alcoholism.

To assess the impact of family intervention therapy as an adjuvant to pharmacotherapy in alcohol-dependent subjects in a case-control study design.

Thirty patients who satisfied DSM-IV Criteria for alcohol dependence syndrome were given the right package of family intervention therapy. Thirty age-, sex- and 'marital status'-matched patients who satisfied the same diagnostic criteria were given only brief supportive psychotherapy. Both groups were assessed at base line, six months and at one year using Michigan Alcohol Screening Test, Motivation Scale, Rotter's Locus of Control, Family Intervention Pattern Scale and Presumptive Stressful Events Scale. Primary efficacy variable was cumulative abstinence duration, and secondary efficacy variables were relapse rate and time to first drink.

Family intervention therapy significantly reduced the severity of alcohol intake, improved the motivation to stop alcohol and changed the locus of control from external to internal in the study group. Control group experienced more severe stressful life events than the study group during the follow-up periods. Drop-out rate was comparable in both groups.

Combining pharmacological treatment with appropriate psychosocial therapies focusing on the specific problem of the patient provides better outcome than either of these therapies given alone.