A comparison of four behavioral treatments of alcoholism

A treatment program was designed to compare the therapeutic efficacy of four behavior therapy approaches to the treatment of alcoholism. Forty-nine alcoholics were administered either a behavioral family counseling, systematic desensitization, covert sensitization or a shock presentation treatment program. The treatment program was conducted in an out-patient setting using both professional and para-professional therapists. Each patient's therapy regime adhered to a standardized sequence of treatment sessions over a 1-yr period. Additionally, each program participant was offered the opportunity to establish a treatment goal of either controlled drinking or complete abstinence. Program data indicated that behavioral family counseling was the most effective alcoholism treatment method of the four procedures studied. Systematic desensitization was highly effective in modifying excessive alcohol consumption with covert sensitization being only moderately effective. Presentation of shock resulted in little behavior change, suggesting that the procedure may have only limited utility for alcoholism treatment in an out-patient facility. Controlled drinking appeared to be an appropriate and practical treatment alternative to the traditional treatment program requirement of complete abstinence. Implications for the operation of behavioral alcoholism treatment programs in out-patient facilities are summarized and discussed.