Recruitment into treatment and effects of treatment for female problem drinkers

Literature on treatment of female problem drinkers is reviewed, focusing on the following topics: Recruitment of female problem drinkers into alcoholism treatment agencies, the fate of women in traditional mixed-sex treatment institutions, special treatment approaches for women, methodological problems and needs for future research. Several studies indicate that fewer women than men are recruited into alcoholism treatment agencies and that the referral routes in many ways differ from the referral routes of men. The women also report more negative effects of treatment, and are commonly looked upon as receiving less attention and less adequate care in the mixed-treatment institutions. On the other hand, a substantial number of studies of treatment outcome have shown that women seem to do just as well in treatment in mixed-sex institutions as men do. Several reports of all-female treatment programmes have been presented. Some treatment techniques may seem to have special significance for female problem drinkers, for instance self-assertiveness training and family therapy. But very few controlled studies of such programmes have been carried out up to now.