Couple alcohol treatment benefits patients' partners

Abstract

This study explored the effects of conjoint therapy on the partner of alcoholic patients. Seventy-five alcohol abusers were randomly assigned to one of two manualized alcoholism treatments. Effects on partners were evaluated on three outcome measures. Results indicated that partner alcohol use was initially high, but was improved by treatment. An assessment of cross-cutting dimensions of patient-treatment matching, found to be effective in predicting patient response, was then applied to the prediction of partner response. These dimensions were unsuccessful in predicting changes in partner response to treatment. Results are discussed in respect to possible differences in matching partners versus clients to treatment. The statistical representation of patient-treatment matching is discussed along with other topics for future Aptitude x Treatment interaction research.