ABSTRACT
Behaviouraltreatmentsforalcoholdependence,likeotherbehaviouralapproaches, embodyanattitudetowardstreatmentmorethanadefmedsetoftechniques.The attitudestemsfromtheassumptionsthat:alcoholdependenceislargelytheproduct ofnormallearningprocesses;alcoholconsumptionisfunctionalforthedrinker;as alearnedbehaviour,excessivedrinkingcanbe'unlearned'ifitsfunctionsare understood.Theseassumptionsimpelthetherapisttoinvestigateantecedents (environmental,emotionalandcognitive)ofepisodesofexcessivedrinking,and consequencesthatmaintainthebehaviour.Thebehaviouralapproachinvolves testingindividualizedtreatmentstrategiesandabandoningthosethatfailtowork.
