Alcoholism: beliefs and attitudes among Canadian alcoholism treatment practitioners.
OBJECTIVE
To explore differences in views concerning adjunctive medications and theoretical orientation among Canadian practitioners from different professional backgrounds who treat alcoholism.


METHODS
A survey of clinicians from different disciplines was conducted by mail. The response rate was 56%: 95 drug and alcohol counsellors, 46 social workers, 81 nonpsychiatrist addiction physicians, and 74 addiction psychiatrists. The number of items in the questionnaire was reduced using principal component analysis. Group differences were explored using analysis of variance with Bonferroni correction and Scheffé's posthoc comparisons.


RESULTS
Physicians and nonphysicians differed in their views on the utility of medications in treating alcohol problems, the disease concept of alcohol problems, and the classification of alcohol abuse or dependence as psychiatric conditions. No group differences emerged on views regarding cognitive-behavioural treatment, pharmacological-only interventions, combined treatment, and recovery without treatment. Psychopathology in the alcoholic was significantly more likely to be considered as secondary to the use of alcohol by nonpsychiatrist physicians. Nonphysician practitioners viewed alcoholic behaviour as self-medication.


CONCLUSIONS
Groups differed on questionnaire items concerning medication use and the disease concept of alcoholism. Agreement on several areas may facilitate bridging the gap across disciplines. The implications of these results are discussed.
Addiction Research Foundation Division, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario.
E E
EE
Meza
J A
JA
Cunningham
N
N
el-Guebaly
L
L
Couper
D000427:Alcohol Deterrents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001521:Behavior Therapy; D002170:Canada; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D006801:Humans; D010348:Patient Care Team; D012017:Referral and Consultation
D000427:Alcohol Deterrents