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Problem drinkers' goal choice and treatment outcome: a preliminary study
Addictive Behaviors
|January 1, 1984
Summary
Following a 6-week program, problem drinkers were grouped by physical damage and chosen goals (controlled drinking or abstinence). Both goal groups showed similar outcomes, with patients advised to abstain faring worst.
Area of Science:
- Addiction Medicine
- Psychology
- Public Health
Background:
- Problem drinking requires effective treatment strategies.
- Residential programs focusing on self-control and education are common.
- Patient-centered goal setting may influence treatment outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the 1-year outcomes of problem drinkers post-treatment.
- To compare outcomes between controlled drinking and abstinence goal groups.
- To assess the impact of physical damage on treatment success.
Main Methods:
- Thirty-seven problem drinkers completed a 6-week residential program.
- Patients were classified into three groups based on physical damage and goal choice (controlled drinking or abstinence).
- Outcomes were assessed over a 1-year follow-up period.
Main Results:
- No significant outcome differences were found between controlled drinking choosers and abstinence choosers.
- Patients in both goal-choice groups were most likely to achieve their chosen outcome.
- Patients with physical damage who were advised to abstain showed the worst outcomes.
Conclusions:
- Treatment outcomes for problem drinkers may be influenced by goal choice and physical health status.
- Tailoring post-treatment recommendations based on individual patient factors is crucial.
- Further research is needed to understand the long-term efficacy of different drinking goals in addiction recovery.