ABSTRACT
The answer to the question, ‘Does treatment work?’ hinges upon qualifying elements such as what one means by ‘treatment’ and what one means by ‘work’. Treatment can refer to quite different types of intervention, such as the management of acute intoxication and withdrawal, the provision of individual or group therapy on an inpatient, day-patient or out-patient basis, psychoanalysis, behaviour therapy and environmental manipulation. This chapter focuses on what therapists and patients bring to treatment for alcohol problems in terms of their respective ideas and expectations about treatment and their respective criteria of success. The initial consultation offers clients a follow-up service which is explicitly informative and educational and generally in keeping with their expectations.
