A 58-yr.-old male who had been drinking alcohol heavily for 32 yr. was treated with covert sensitization. Covert sensitization material was obtained from his responses to the Fear Survey Schedule, which included many fears of somatic dysfunction, physical pain and suffering. During 7 wk. of treatment subject's self-reported drinking behavior was eliminated and remained so at 26-, 52-, and 78-wk. follow-ups. Apparently covert sensitization with preexisting somatic concerns can be effectively employed in treatment of alcoholism.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
AnatS.A note on the treatment of alcoholics by a verbal aversion technique. Canadian Psychologist, 1967, 80, 19–22.
2.
AshemB.DonnerL.Covert sensitization with alcoholics: A controlled replication. Behavior Research and Therapy, 1968, 6, 7–12.
3.
BlakeB. G.The application of behavior therapy to the treatment of alcoholism. Behavior Research and Therapy, 1965, 3, 75–85.
4.
BlakeB. G.A follow-up of alcoholics treated by behavior therapy. Behavior Research and Therapy, 1967, 5, 89–94.
5.
BourneP.AlvordJ.BowcockJ.Treatment of skid-row alcoholics with disulfiram. Quarterly Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 1967, 27, 42–48.
6.
CautelaJ.Treatment of compulsive behavior by covert sensitization. Psychological Record, 1966, 16, 33–41.
DavisonG. C.Elimination of a sadistic fantasy by a client-controlled counter-conditioning technique: A case study. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 1968, 73, 84–90.
9.
KendellL.The role of the nurse in treatment of the alcoholic patient. In FoxR. (Ed.), Alcoholism: Behavioral research, therapeutic approaches. New York: Springer, 1967. Pp. 285–292.
10.
LemereF.VoegtlinW.An evaluation of the aversion treatment of alcoholism. Quarterly Journal of Studies on Alcoholism, 1950, 11, 199–204.
11.
LevineB. A.Treatment of trichotillomania by covert sensitization. Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, 1976, 7, 75–76.
12.
SmithR.GregoryP.Covert sensitization by induced anxiety in the treatment of an alcoholic. Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, 1976, 7, 31–33.
13.
StuartR. B.Behavioral control of eating. Behavior Research and Therapy, 1967, 5, 357–365.
14.
WeinerH.Psychodramatic treatment of the alcoholic. In FoxR. (Ed.), Alcoholism: Behavioral research, therapeutic approaches. New York: Springer, 1967. Pp. 218–233.
15.
WolpeJ.LangP.A fear survey schedule for use in behavior therapy. Behavior Research and Therapy, 1964, 2, 27.
