Behavioral Couples Therapy for Substance Abusers: Where Do We Go From Here?

Abstract

Behavioral couples therapy (BCT) is an evidence-based family treatment for substance abuse. The results of numerous investigations over the past 30 years indicate that participation in this treatment by married or cohabiting substance-abusing patients, compared with more traditional individual-based interventions, results in greater reductions in substance use, higher levels of relationship satisfaction, greater reductions in partner violence, and more favorable cost outcomes. This review examines the rationale for using BCT, the empirical literature supporting its use, methods used as part of this intervention, and future research directions.

RÉSUMÉ

Thérapie comportementale avec des couples qui utilisent des drogues: Où allons-nous partir d'ici

Behavioral Couples Therapy (BCT) est un traitement de la famille en évidence des problèmes de toxicomanie. Les résultats de nombreuses recherches au cours des 30 dernières années indiquent que la participation à ce traitement par mariés ou non toxicomanes patients, comparativement à plus traditionnelles interventions individuelles, des résultats de plus grandes réductions de la consommation de substances, des niveaux plus élevés de satisfaction conjugale, des réductions plus importantes dans la violence entre partenaires, et des résultats de coûts plus favorable. Cette revue de la justification de l'utilisation de la BCT, la littérature empirique étayant son utilisation, les méthodes utilisées dans le cadre de cette intervention, et des directions de recherche future.

RESUMEN

La terapia conductual Parejas de Usuarios de Drogas: ¿A dónde vamos desde aquí?

Comportamiento Terapia de Pareja es un tratamiento basado en evidencia de la familia por uso de drogas..Los resultados de numerosas investigaciones durante los últimos 30 años indican que la participación en este tratamiento por casadas o unidas que abusan de sustancias pacientes, en comparación con las intervenciones de base individual más tradicional, se traduce en una mayor reducción en el consumo de drogas, mayores niveles de satisfacción de la relación, una mayor reducción en la violencia de pareja, y los resultados de costos más favorables. Esta revisión examina la justificación del uso de BCT, la literatura empírica que apoya su uso, los métodos utilizados en el marco de esta intervención, y las direcciones futuras de investigación.

Keywords :

• behavioral couples therapy
• couples therapy
• substance abuse treatment

THE AUTHORS

Keith Klostermann, Ph.D., is a Research Assistant Professor at the Old Dominion University. Dr. Klostermann's research interests lie in each of the following general areas: (1) IPV among married or cohabiting substance-abusing patients; (2) marital and family therapy with substance-abusing patients; (3) psychosocial adjustment of families (i.e., parents and children); and (4) parent training with substance-abusing patients who have custodial children.

Michelle L. Kelley, Ph.D., is a Professor of psychology in the Department of Psychology at the Old Dominion University. Her primary research interests are in the psychosocial functioning of children living with fathers or mothers dependent on alcohol or other drugs and research examining the effectiveness of parent treatment for alcoholism or other substance addiction for children's immediate and short-term psychosocial functioning.

Theresa Mignone, Ph.D., is a Psychologist at the VA Western New York Healthcare Center. Dr. Mignone's primary research interest involves treatments for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and partner violence among married or cohabiting patients in both the general population and military samples.

Lori Pusateri, M.S., L.M.H.C, is a New York State licensed mental health counselor and Health Project Coordinator on a National Institute on Drug Abuse-funded clinical trial examining the effects of fathers’ drug use on the family unit. Ms. Pusateri's research interests include couples and family treatments and IPV among drug- and alcohol-abusing couples.

Kristi Wills, M.S., C.A.S.A.C, is a New York State Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor and Site Coordinator for Northpointe Council, Inc., an outpatient substance abuse treatment facility. Ms. Wills’ research interests include men and women in abusive relationships with using partners as well as the effects of drugs and alcohol on the family system.