Behavioral Couples Therapy When Both Partners Have a Current Alcohol Use Disorder

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Psychology
• Addiction Medicine

Background:

• Behavioral couples therapy (BCT) is a recognized treatment for alcohol use disorder (AUD).
• Limited research exists on BCT's efficacy for couples where both partners have current AUD.
• This gap necessitates an examination of BCT for dual-problem AUD couples.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the effectiveness of BCT in dual-problem AUD couples versus single-problem AUD couples.
• To assess treatment outcomes related to abstinence in both couple types.
• To provide clinical insights into applying BCT for couples with co-occurring AUD.

Main Methods:

• A comparative study design was employed.
• Outcomes for dual-problem couples (n=20) were compared to single-problem couples (n=386).
• Both groups received behavioral couples therapy (BCT).

Main Results:

• Dual-problem couples and single-problem couples demonstrated comparable improvements in abstinence rates.
• No statistically significant difference was observed between the two groups regarding treatment outcomes.
• The findings support BCT's applicability in diverse AUD couple configurations.

Conclusions:

• Behavioral couples therapy (BCT) is effective for couples with alcohol use disorder (AUD), irrespective of whether one or both partners have AUD.
• The study supports the use of BCT for dual-problem AUD couples.
• Clinical application of BCT for dual-problem AUD couples is feasible and effective.