Brief Group Therapy for Alcohol Dependent Patients. A Comparison beween Relapse Prevention and Psychodynamic Therapy

Abstract

Thirty-five alcohol dependent patients were followed-up one year after completion of treatment in relapse prevention groups. In terms of alcohol consumption this group had a statistically significant better outcome than a comparable group of patients given standard treatment. In a second study, 59 patients, of which a significantly larger proportion were women (63 percent), were treated in either psychodynamically- or behaviourally-oriented brief group-psychotherapy. Alcohol consumption measures showed a clear tendency in favor of the psychodynamic treatment at follow-up about 12 months after the groups ended. Both treatment types had a positive effect on the patients' alcohol consumption, but the behavioural content did not seem to be a necessary treatment ingredient for this patient group. The results indicated, however, that therapist style in terms of actively influencing the process and focussing on personal and emotionally loaded themes might be of more importance than theoretical orientation.