Only One Problem at a Time Please

Researchers are still revising treatment programs to find the most effective platform in order to lessen the amount of relapses in the individual with a SUD. When looking at the consequences in a specific drug of abuse such as alcohol or nicotine, it is really difficult to find an individual who is using just one substance. The same applies for an SUD and a psychological health problem. Therefore when you look into the most effective treatment program for an individual suffering for alcoholism and depression, there needs to be an integrative treatment. Most likely they correlate with each other whether the individual is drinking because they are depressed or they are depressed because of the consequences of their drinking. They are related and both need to be addressed in treatment. This study looked at two variables; the amount of time required for each intervention and the focus of the intervention. There was a brief intervention and a ten-week intervention; the brief intervention was an integrative focus. The ten-week intervention had three subgroups: an alcohol focus, a depression focus, or an integrated focus.

            Their hypothesis was correct that the ten-week treatment sessions produced a reduction in the average drinks per week compared to the brief intervention. When looking at the different concentrations within the ten-week interventions, the integrated intervention showed both a larger reduction in the average drinking days and the level of depression. The implications of this study promote the use of integrative treatment programs. Research shows that an alcohol use disorder and depression co-occur often and therefore need to be treated together.  

            One of the limitations stated in the article is the need of further research into gender differences within the different concentrations of the treatment. Also, further research is needed in other co-occurring disorders that may be more severe such as schizophrenia and nicotine.

Abstract

Baker, A. L., Kavanagh, D. J., Kay-Lambkin, F. J., Hunt, S. A., Lewin, T. J., Carr, V. J., & Connolly J. (2010). Randomized controlled trail of cognitive-behavioral therapy for coexisting depression and alcohol problems: short-term outcome. Addiction, 105, 87-99.