Treatments for Alcohol Addiction - Psychotherapy

Question 1

What is psychotherapy?

Answer 1

Involves personal counselling with a therapist and is a form of talking therapy

Developed from Freud

Question 2

What does psychotherapy believe about certain illnesses or behaviours?

Answer 2

Believes that certain illnesses or behaviours such as alcoholism are manifestations of unresolved problems which may have begun early in life

Such problems will continue unless they are dealt with

Question 3

What does psychotherapy offer?

Answer 3

Offers solutions and methods for dealing with the problems that an alcoholic faces in their life that may make them want to drink

Question 4

What does psychotherapy aim to do?

Answer 4

Aims to access the clients unconscious thoughts

Focuses on the defence mechanisms used by many alcoholics such as denial

Question 5

What happens during a psychotherapy session?

Answer 5

During therapy, a psychotherapist may ask questions relating to a certain incident or event, about any dreams it fantasies the client is having or any significant issues the client wants to bring up

Question 6

What is the relationship like between the client and therapist?

Answer 6

Therapist-client relationship is very important in psychotherapy

Clients expected to share their emotions and thoughts with their therapist, so having a secure and trusting relationship is paramount

Question 7

How long does psychotherapy last for?

Answer 7

Made up of sessions, usually less than 1 hour where a therapist and client will be in a treatment room and discuss the issues at hand

Sessions often weekly and will continue until the issues are resolved

Question 8

How is group psychotherapy used?

Answer 8

Involves group based sessions for clients addicted to alcohol

Number of clients are treated by a professional at the same time

Question 9

What does group psychotherapy offer clients?

Answer 9

Offers a unique opportunity for individuals to feel a sense of community or universality

Encourages empathy, altruism and interpersonal skull development which are often lacking in alcohol-dependent people

Question 10

What is the supporting evidence/strengths of psychotherapy as a treatment for alcohol addiction?

Answer 10

Smith (1982)

Underlying issues

Side effects

Social control

Question 11

What is the refuting evidence/weaknesses of psychotherapy as a treatment for alcohol addiction?

Answer 11

Eysenck (1952)

Eclectic approach

Individual differences

Costly

Psychology as a science

Question 12

Why is Smith (1982) supporting evidence for psychotherapy as a treatment for alcohol addiction?

Answer 12

Smith conducted a meta-analysis of 475 studies on the effectiveness of psychotherapy

Results showed that psychotherapy is effective in enhancing psychological well-being

However, its effectiveness is influenced by factors such as the patient’s age and the therapists training and experience

Question 13

Why is underlying issues a strength of psychotherapy as a treatment for alcohol addiction?

Answer 13

Psychotherapy is thought to be effective because rather than dealing with the symptoms alone, it deals with underlying problems of an alcoholic which is important when trying to tackle the root cause of alcoholism

Question 14

Why is side effects a strength of psychotherapy as a treatment for alcohol addiction?

Answer 14

It doesn’t produce any physical side effects

Furthermore, it offers the possibility of an effective treatment for alcoholics who haven’t responded to drug-based treatments such as aversion therapy

Question 15

Why is social control a strength of psychotherapy as a treatment for alcohol addiction?

Answer 15

Compared to aversion therapy clients undergoing psychotherapy have more control over the therapy

Client has control over the issues they want to explore and over the goals they want to achieve

Question 16

Why is Eysnck (1952) refuting evidence for psychotherapy as a treatment for alcohol addiction?

Answer 16

Eysenck reviewed several studies assessing the effectiveness of psychotherapy and concluded only 44% of psychoanalysis patients showed any kind of real improvement over a five year period

Though numbers were somewhat higher for eclectic therapy (64%) the improvement rate was still well believe the 72% rate for patients treated in hospitals

Question 17

Why is eclectic approach a weakness of psychotherapy as a treatment for alcohol addiction?

Answer 17

May not be effective on its own

Psychotherapy has been criticised as being difficult to use with alcohol addicts who are still drinking

This it’s more likely to be combined with a physical treatment such as aversion therapy, providing a more eclectic approach to treatment

Question 18

Why are individual differences a weakness of psychotherapy as a treatment for alcohol addiction?

Answer 18

Individual differences may impact the success of the therapy

e.g. some people may not be articulate enough to express themselves full in a talking therapy

Furthermore, some people wouldn’t be open to psychotherapy as the thought of accessing parts of their childhood isn’t desirable

Question 19

Why is cost a weakness of psychotherapy as a treatment for alcohol addiction?

Answer 19

Psychotherapy typically takes longer than drug therapies to produce benefits that are noticeable

May result in higher financial costs, meaning the NHS may favour the use of medication in treating alcoholics

Question 20

Why is psychology as a science a weakness of psychotherapy as a treatment for alcohol addiction?

Answer 20

For some people spending time with a therapist and discussing alcohol may be sufficient to create a change in behaviour as the individual may feel supported

Therefore possible that simply discussing their alcohol results in behaviour change rather than specifically the components of therapy itself

In this sense its difficult to determine if the positive therapeutic relationship creates behaviour change or simply the attention the patient receives