Fear during Alcohol Detoxification: Views from the Clients’ Perspective

Abstract

Little is known about fears experienced during alcohol detoxification. Using qualitative research this preliminary study analysed descriptions of fears during one-to-one interviews about the experience of undertaking alcohol detoxification. Fears about detoxification centred around four main areas: the setting in which the process takes place, the physical consequences of withdrawal, the medication given to manage detoxification and the experience of future daily living without alcohol. The findings suggest that particular attention needs to be paid to the environmental setting of detoxification and the personal meaning of receiving medical care for withdrawal. In addition, more integration of relapse prevention work into the earliest stages of alcohol-related treatment and the provision of accurate information about detoxification may prove effective in reducing fears about the process.

Keywords

alcohol detoxification fear withdrawal

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Allen, J. , Copello, A. , & Orford, J. (under review). The effects of an anxiety focused cognitive behavioural intervention on the withdrawal experience of clients undertaking detoxification from alcohol.

Cohen, A. , Klett, C. , & Ling, W. (1983). Patient perspectives of opiate withdrawal . Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 12, 167-172 .

Eiser, J. , & Gossop, M. (1979). ‘Hooked’ or ‘sick’: Addicts perceptions of their addiction . Addictive Behaviours, 4, 185-191 .

Glaser, B. , & Strauss, A. (1967). The discovery of grounded theory. Chicago, IL: Aldine .

Hall, S. (1984). The abstinence phobias: Links between substance abuse and anxiety . International Journal of the Addictions, 19(6), 613-631 .

Hallberg, L. , & Carlsson, S. (1991). A qualitative study of strategies for managing a hearing impairment . British Journal of Audiology, 25, 201-211 .

Hawker, R. , & Orford, J. (1998). Predicting alcohol withdrawal severity: Support for the role of expectations and anxiety . Addiction Research, 6(3), 265-287 .

Knott, D. , Beard, J. , & Fink, R. (1978). Guidelines for diagnosis and alcohol detoxification . Drug Therapy, 8, 35-47 .

Marlatt, G. , & Gordon, J. (Eds.). (1985). Relapse prevention. London: Guilford Press .

10.

Milby, J. , Garrett, C. , & Meredith, R. (1980). Iatrogenic phobic disorders in methadone maintenance treated patients . International Journal of the Addictions, 15(5), 737-747 .

11.

Orford, J. (1995). Qualitative research for applied psychologists . Clinical Psychology Forum, 75, 19-26 .

12.

Orford, J. , & Wawman, T. (1986). Alcohol detoxification services: A review. Department of Health and Social Security (UK). Addictions and Homelessness Research Liaison Group .

13.

Phillips, G. , Gossop, M. , & Bradley, B. (1986). The influence of psychological factors on the opiate withdrawal syndrome . British Journal of Psychiatry, 149, 235-238 .

14.

Smith, J. (1995). Semi-structured interviewing and qualitative analysis. In J. A. Smith , R. Harre , & L. V. Langenhore (Eds.), Rethinking methods in psychology (pp. 9-26). London: Sage Publications .

15.

Stockwell, T. (1994). Alcohol withdrawal: An adaptation to heavy drinking of no practical significance? Addiction, 89, 1447-1453 .

16.

Strauss, A. , & Corbin, J. (1990). Basics of qualitative research: Grounded theory procedures and techniques. London: Sage Publications .

17.

West, R. , & Gossop, M. (1994). Overview: A comparison of withdrawal symptoms from different drug classes . Addiction, 89, 1483-1489 .