Coping with a problem drinker: A therapeutic intervention for the partners of problem drinkers, in their own right

Abstract

Aims: To describe the development and preliminary evaluation of an intervention for partners of problem drinkers in their own right.

Design: A series of case studies (n = 15 partners, all women) leading to the development of guidelines for an intervention. A before‐and‐after study of the intervention offered to partners (n = 50, all but three women) by the first author and volunteer counsellors, with follow‐up to six months plus comparison with a small waiting list group and partial follow‐up to 12 months.

Measures: Main outcome measure: Symptom Rating Test (SRT). Additional measures: Short Coping Questionnaire (SCQ: sacrificing and engaged coping); Self‐esteem (SE); Independence (IND); Drinking Related Behaviour (DRB); and Outcome for the Problem Drinker (OPD).

Results: There were significant changes from initial assessment to three month follow‐up, and between three and six month follow‐up, in the case of SRT and SCQ sacrificing coping. In addition there were initial to three months changes on SE and IND, and three to six months changes for SCQ engaged coping. The small waiting list comparison suggested that changes in SRT and sacrificing coping occurred after the start of the intervention, and the partial 12 month follow‐up suggested that changes could be maintained. Most partners had sought help in order to try to change their relatives' drinking. Those who had sought help principally for themselves were more likely to have experienced violence, were more likely to have partners whose drinking was episodic and were more likely to drop out of treatment.

Conclusion: The present study demonstrates the possibility of delivering an effective intervention for partners of problem drinkers in their own right.

• Problem drinkers
• partners
• intervention
• coping

Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge the contribution to this work of: the Alcohol, Drugs and the Family (ADF) research special interest group who provided stimulation and encouragement; the drug and alcohol treatment teams and volunteers who took part and, most especially, the participating partners; Pat Evans who typed draft and final versions of this paper; and Lorna Templeton who provided valuable comments on the draft.