title: Behavioral couples therapy for the treatment of substance abuse: a substantive and methodological review of O'Farrell, Fals-Stewart, and colleagues' program of research.
abstract: Behavioral couples therapy (BCT) is an evidence-based couple therapy intervention for married or cohabitating substance abusers and their partners. This paper provides readers with a substantive and methodological review of Fals-Stewart, O'Farrell, and colleagues' program of research on BCT. The 23 studies included in this review provide support for the efficacy of BCT for improving substance use behavior, dyadic adjustment, child psychosocial outcomes, and reducing partner violence. This review includes a description of BCT, summaries of primary and secondary outcomes, highlights methodological strengths and weaknesses, notes barriers to dissemination, suggests future research directions, and provides clinical implications for couple and family therapists. Although there are several versions of BCT developed for the treatment of substance abuse this paper focuses on the version developed by O'Farrell, Fals-Stewart, and colleagues.
authors.affiliation: Child Development & Family Studies, Purdue University, Fowler Memorial House, 1200 W. State St., West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA. sruff@purdue.edu
authors.forename: Saralyn
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ruff
authors.forename: Jennifer L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: McComb
authors.forename: Casey J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Coker
authors.forename: Douglas H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Sprenkle
mesh_terms: D032763:Behavior Control / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D016241:Child of Impaired Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D055317:Evidence-Based Practice; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005192:Family Health; D006801:Humans; D008388:Marital Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D015201:Meta-Analysis as Topic; D012107:Research Design; D013179:Spouse Abuse / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome