With international concern growing over the sharp increase in alcohol-related physical, psychological and social problems, effort has been directed over the past decade toward arresting the growth of the situation created by alcoholism in western society. Alcoholism is defined and treatment approaches are discussed, along with the methodological problems encountered in evaluating such approaches. An innovative technique, ALCONFRONTATION, is described and examined. Encouraging claims have been made by the author of Alconfrontation in provoking drug dependent persons to choose to become independent of their drug of choice. A study designed to evaluate the impact of the technique in comparison with another treatment approach and a control group of "no treatment" is described. Cases diagnosed alcoholic who were consecutively admitted to a psychiatric admission centre were randomly assigned to the experimental and control groups. Pre-treatment data were collected on all subjects prior to treatment. The groups were followed up six to seven months later and comparisons were made between groups on variables related to life style and sobriety using Chi-square and Federighi's Exact test. Absence of significant differences between groups indicated no evidence of treatment effect. Few subjects were sober on follow-up. It is concluded that Alconfrontation did not positively affect the drinking behaviour and life patterns of alcoholics in this study. Further research is suggested to determine if the technique has any negative impact. Recommendations for alternative management and treatment of chronic alcoholics are made. A two level programme consisting of a community co operative support system and a "Total Push" interdisciplinary team treatment facility is suggested and outlined. / Masters Thesis
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ADTP/189534 |
| Date | January 1977 |
| Creators | Waring, Trevor Clifton |
| Source Sets | Australiasian Digital Theses Program |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Rights | http://www.newcastle.edu.au/copyright.html, Copyright 1977 Trevor Clifton Waring |
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