Cognitive-behavioral treatment for alcohol dependence: a review of evidence for its hypothesized mechanisms of action.
OBJECTIVE
This review examined support for the hypothesis that cognitive-behavioral treatment (CBT) for alcohol dependence works through increasing cognitive and behavioral coping skills.


METHODS
Ten studies were identified that examined the hypothesized mechanisms of action of CBT. These studies involved random assignment (or its near equivalent) of participants to CBT and at least one comparison condition.


RESULTS
Although numerous analyses of the possible causal links have been conducted to evaluate whether CBT works through increasing coping, the results indicate little support for the hypothesized mechanisms of action of CBT.


CONCLUSIONS
Research has not yet established why CBT is an effective treatment for alcohol dependence. Negative findings may reflect methodological flaws of prior studies. Alternatively, findings may indicate one or more conceptual assumptions underlying CBT require revision.
Morgenstern
J
J
Department of Psychiatry, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, USA. jon.morgenstern@mssm.edu
Longabaugh
R
R
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D011594:Psychometrics; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012107:Research Design; D018401:Sample Size; D016896:Treatment Outcome