Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Alcohol expectancies are believed to play a crucial role in the initiation and maintenance of problematic alcohol use. The present study investigated changes in alcohol expectancies before and after inpatient chemical detoxification for alcohol dependence. METHODS: A sample of 48 alcohol-dependent participants completed the Alcohol Outcome Expectancies Scale before and after inpatient chemical detoxification. RESULTS: After inpatient chemical detoxification a significant overall reduction in both positive and negative alcohol expectancies was observed. At 12-month follow-up 89.5% of participants had relapsed. CONCLUSIONS: Inpatient chemical detoxification results in lower positive and negative alcohol expectancies in alcohol dependent patients. However, high relapse rates reported at 12-month follow-up suggest that these changes are not a reliable indicator of future alcohol use discontinuation. The implications of these findings are discussed.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 157-161 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Addictive Disorders and their Treatment |
Volume | 7 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Sept 2008 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Alcohol expectancies
- Chemical detoxification
- Relapse