Changes in conflict, symptoms, and well-being during psychodynamic and cognitive-behavioral alcohol inpatient treatment.
BACKGROUND
According to Grawe's psychological therapy approach, conflict reduction can be expected not only in psychodynamic, but also in cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). This was tested in an effectiveness study. Changes in cognitive conflicts, along with those of symptom severity and well-being were analyzed during alcohol inpatient treatment.


METHODS
Four times during treatment, groups of patients receiving psychodynamic therapy (n = 45 patients) or CBT (n = 49 patients) were measured and compared. Lauterbach's Online Conflict Test was used to measure conflict. Symptom severity and well-being were measured using questionnaires.


RESULTS
Results showed significant conflict decrease in both groups with a tendency towards faster reduction under CBT. There was also significant change in symptom severity and well-being in both groups with no difference regarding reduction gradient. Moreover, patients in the psychodynamic treatment group exhibited lower symptom scores at treatment begin which may be a consequence of clinical group assignment.


CONCLUSIONS
In general, the findings confirmed Grawe's theoretical assumptions. Generalizability to other diagnostic groups and other clinical settings remains to be tested.
Hoyer
J
J
Technische Universität, Dresden, Germany. hoyer@psy1.psych-tu-dresden.de
Fecht
J
J
Lauterbach
W
W
Schneider
R
R
D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010343:Patient Admission; D011575:Psychoanalytic Therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome