Group psychotherapy with alcoholics: Interface with self-help groups

Background and Objective. The basis of substance use disorders (SUD) is formed with regard to biopsychosocial aspects. By following the SUD biological model exclusively, the effectiveness of treatment is limited since all the formation aspects of SUD are not taken into account. By using the psychosocial model, however, the understanding and treatment of a substance use illness becomes enhanced and is more effective. A key role in this model is played by self-help groups and psychotherapy. The aim of this study was to determine the viewpoint of patients with substance use disorders in terms of the number of visits, duration of treatment, efficacy of self-help groups, and individual and group psychotherapy in different treatment methods. Material and Methods. The participants were approached by researchers at two drug and alcohol services in Latvia. In total, 587 patients received questionnaires developed by the authors of the study. Results. All the 587 questionnaires of both outpatient respondents (n=200, 34.1%) and inpatient respondents (n=387, 65.9%) were analyzed. Of all the outpatient department respondents, 41.5% (n=83) attended self-help groups, 28.5% (n=57) individual psychotherapy, and 14.5% (n=29) group psychotherapy; the inpatient department respondents were 2 to 4 times less often involved in the measures. Conclusions. The outpatient respondents were more frequently employed. They attended selfhelp groups and psychotherapy and obtained longer remission comparing with inpatient respondents. This study has shown that patients had a greater success rate in staying in remission, maintaining outpatient care and shedding the need of inpatient care.

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Introduction to the Forum on Cluttering: Rays of Hope Shine Around the World

Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups ◽

10.1044/2019_pers-19-00065 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 4 (6) ◽

pp. 1566-1567

Author(s):

Isabella Reichel

Keyword(s):

Professional Preparation ◽

Joint Effort ◽

Feedback Training ◽

Successful Communication ◽

Self Help ◽

The World ◽

Common Thread ◽

Evidence Based Treatments ◽

Attention Performance ◽

Self Help Groups

Purpose In the 10 years since the International Cluttering Association (ICA) was created, this organization has been growing in the scope of its initiatives, and in the variety of resources it makes available for people with cluttering (PWC). However, the awareness of this disorder and of the methods for its intervention remain limited in countries around the world. A celebration of the multinational and multicultural engagements of the ICA's Committee of the International Representatives is a common thread running through all the articles in this forum. The first article is a joint effort among international representatives from five continents and 15 countries, exploring various themes related to cluttering, such as awareness, research, professional preparation, intervention, and self-help groups. The second article, by Elizabeth Gosselin and David Ward, investigates attention performance in PWC. In the third article, Yvonne van Zaalen and Isabella Reichel explain how audiovisual feedback training can improve the monitoring skills of PWC, with both quantitative and qualitative benefits in cognitive, emotional, and social domains of communication. In the final article, Hilda Sønsterud examines whether the working alliance between the client and clinician may predict a successful cluttering therapy outcome. Conclusions Authors of this forum exchanged their expertise, creativity, and passion with the goal of solving the mystery of the disconcerting cluttering disorder with the hope that all PWC around the globe will have access to the most effective evidence-based treatments leading to blissful and successful communication.

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