Prevention of relapses in people who have stopped alcohol abuse and reached abstinence is difficult. In fact, although only a few alcoholics undergoing current standard treatments achieve abstinence (success rates at 1 year are estimated to be around 20%), the chances of reaching controlled drinking seem to decline for most of the others who drop out.1 Workers in studies on various self-control issues, from obesity to drug abuse, have shown that self-management abilities can be fostered by methods such as self-monitoring, by use of cognitive-social learning principles. On this basis, we have started a programme with patients admitted to University of Rome La Sapienza, with a diagnosis of alcohol abuse. The programme aims at maintaining total or partial abstinence in participants by teaching and fostering self-monitoring and self-management abilities with minimum use of professional time. The programme is assessed with a controlled randomised design spanning 1 year.2 Participants, enrolled with specific criteria, represent about 25% of all alcoholics arriving at our service. All participants receive standard medical treatment as day hospital patients in the first 2 weeks. Those in the treatment group are given the choice of aiming for abstinence or for controlled drinking and sign a contract. Thereafter, they are trained to observe their own drinking behaviour, as well as the emotional, cognitive, and environmental contingencies that control it. After discharge, the participants in the control group attend routine aftercare, whereas those in the treatment group are required to maintain the scheduled assignments, including monthly structured telephone contacts, for the next 12 months. Motivation to pursue the self-management tasks is stimulated and maintained in the monthly interviews with staff psychologists. Initial results on the first 60 participants are striking; total abstinence days and drop-out rates differ significantly between groups. At 1 year, 47% of treatment-group participants continue to attend, compared with only 17% in the control groups. Results are also expected in self-efficacy and psychopathology scores, but already we think that increase in perceived personal control of drinking behaviour is a better strategy medical treatment.

MAINTENANCE OF ABSTINANCE FROM ALCOHOL / Sibilia, Lucio; Romeo, Marina; Ceccanti, Mauro; Deiana, L; Coriale, G; Picozzi, R.. - In: THE LANCET. - ISSN 0140-6736. - STAMPA. - 358:(2001), pp. 1103-1104. [10.1016/S0140-6736(01)06222-5]

MAINTENANCE OF ABSTINANCE FROM ALCOHOL

SIBILIA, Lucio;ROMEO, Marina;CECCANTI, Mauro;
2001

Abstract

Prevention of relapses in people who have stopped alcohol abuse and reached abstinence is difficult. In fact, although only a few alcoholics undergoing current standard treatments achieve abstinence (success rates at 1 year are estimated to be around 20%), the chances of reaching controlled drinking seem to decline for most of the others who drop out.1 Workers in studies on various self-control issues, from obesity to drug abuse, have shown that self-management abilities can be fostered by methods such as self-monitoring, by use of cognitive-social learning principles. On this basis, we have started a programme with patients admitted to University of Rome La Sapienza, with a diagnosis of alcohol abuse. The programme aims at maintaining total or partial abstinence in participants by teaching and fostering self-monitoring and self-management abilities with minimum use of professional time. The programme is assessed with a controlled randomised design spanning 1 year.2 Participants, enrolled with specific criteria, represent about 25% of all alcoholics arriving at our service. All participants receive standard medical treatment as day hospital patients in the first 2 weeks. Those in the treatment group are given the choice of aiming for abstinence or for controlled drinking and sign a contract. Thereafter, they are trained to observe their own drinking behaviour, as well as the emotional, cognitive, and environmental contingencies that control it. After discharge, the participants in the control group attend routine aftercare, whereas those in the treatment group are required to maintain the scheduled assignments, including monthly structured telephone contacts, for the next 12 months. Motivation to pursue the self-management tasks is stimulated and maintained in the monthly interviews with staff psychologists. Initial results on the first 60 participants are striking; total abstinence days and drop-out rates differ significantly between groups. At 1 year, 47% of treatment-group participants continue to attend, compared with only 17% in the control groups. Results are also expected in self-efficacy and psychopathology scores, but already we think that increase in perceived personal control of drinking behaviour is a better strategy medical treatment.
2001
ALCOHOLISM; THERAPY; MOTIVATION; CBT
01 Pubblicazione su rivista::01a Articolo in rivista
MAINTENANCE OF ABSTINANCE FROM ALCOHOL / Sibilia, Lucio; Romeo, Marina; Ceccanti, Mauro; Deiana, L; Coriale, G; Picozzi, R.. - In: THE LANCET. - ISSN 0140-6736. - STAMPA. - 358:(2001), pp. 1103-1104. [10.1016/S0140-6736(01)06222-5]
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11573/251079
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