title: Systems releasing action therapy with alcoholics: an experimental evaluation.
abstract: Described Systems Releasing Action Therapy (SRAT) and a controlled study that evaluated its effectiveness. The therapy combines physical and fantasy exercises and has its roots in the Bioenergetic and Gestalt traditions. To evaluate its effectiveness, 56 patients who were receiving treatment for alcoholism were assigned randomly to therapy and control groups. On 3-week follow-up, the therapy sample showed significantly more improvement than the controls on measures of blood pressure, physical symptoms, anxiety, hysteroid tendencies, disturbed feelings and self-image. Suggestive differences (interactions significant only at the .20 level) in favor of the therapy group also appeared on measures of vital capacity withdrawal, excessive drinking, anhedonia and four neurosis-oriented MMPI scales. However, 6-month follow-up data were relatively unimpressive. The results suggest this type of therapy is an effective one, at least for the short term.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D002399:Catharsis; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005201:Fantasy; D006801:Humans; D008950:MMPI; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009497:Neurotic Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D005082:Physical Exertion; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D012649:Self Concept