Cue exposure with coping skills treatment for male alcoholics: A preliminary investigation.

TLDR

Early studies suggested promise, but no controlled follow‑up trials had examined cue exposure treatment for alcoholics. Inpatient alcoholics were randomized to cue exposure with urge‑coping skills training (CET, n = 22) or a contrast condition of assessment only (CC, n = 18) alongside standard care, with comprehensive assessments of process and outcome variables. During the second three months post‑treatment, the CET group had more fully abstinent patients, a higher proportion of abstinent days, and fewer drinks per day, and the greater use of coping skills was linked to reduced drinking, indicating that coping‑skills training contributed to the observed benefits.

Abstract

Although early investigations were promising, no controlled follow-up studies have investigated the effectiveness of cue exposure treatment for alcoholics. In this study, inpatient alcoholics received either cue exposure integrated with urge coping skills training (CET, n = 22) or a contrast condition (CC) involving daily contact with assessment only (n = 18) in addition to standard treatment. Comprehensive assessment measures were used to investigate change in process and outcome variables. In the second 3 months after treatment, the CET group included more patients who were completely abstinent, had a higher percentage of abstinent days, and tended to report fewer drinks per day than did patients in the contrast condition. The significantly greater use of coping skills during follow-up by the CET group and the significant relationship of these coping skills to decreased drinking suggest that treatment effects were due, at least in part, to the coping skills training, consistent with recent formulations. Theoretical and treatment implications are discussed.