title: Acceptance of controlled drinking among treatment specialists of alcohol dependence in Japan.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study evaluated the acceptance of controlled drinking (CD) goals among physicians specializing in the treatment of alcohol dependence (AD) in Japan.
  
  
  METHODS
  A mailed questionnaire survey was sent to physician members of the Japanese Society of Alcohol-Related Problems (n = 232) who were specialists in the treatment of AD in Japan. The evaluated items included the acceptance of CD goals, the definition of CD, the reasons for accepting or rejecting CD and the patient factors used to make treatment-goal decisions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CD as an interim goal on the way toward abstinence was accepted by about two-thirds of the specialists, while CD as a final goal was accepted by about one-third of specialists. Specialists supported harm-free drinking and a satisfactory quality of life, rather than alcohol consumption limits, as the definition of CD. Of note, a significantly higher percentage of specialists who rejected CD, compared with those who accepted CD, supported the disease model of AD as grounds for their decision. Specialists who accepted CD relied mostly on factors such as the severity of dependence, attitude toward CD and abstinence, and the level of psychological dependence and social stability, when making treatment-goal decisions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CD was accepted as an interim goal by two-thirds and as a final goal by one-third of Japanese physician specialists. Despite differences in drinking cultures and treatment circumstances, great similarities were found between this study and those conducted in Europe and North America with regard to the reasoning of treatment providers and the use of patient characteristics to make treatment-goal decisions.
authors.affiliation: National Hospital Organization Kurihama Medical and Addiction Center, 5-3-1 Nobi Yokosuka, Kanagawa 239-0841, Japan h-susumu@db3.so-net.nejp.
authors.forename: Susumu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Higuchi
authors.affiliation: National Hospital Organization Kurihama Medical and Addiction Center, 5-3-1 Nobi Yokosuka, Kanagawa 239-0841, Japan.
authors.forename: Hitoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Maesato
authors.affiliation: National Hospital Organization Kurihama Medical and Addiction Center, 5-3-1 Nobi Yokosuka, Kanagawa 239-0841, Japan.
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yoshimura
authors.affiliation: National Hospital Organization Kurihama Medical and Addiction Center, 5-3-1 Nobi Yokosuka, Kanagawa 239-0841, Japan.
authors.forename: Sachio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Matsushita
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000523:psychology*; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D006040:Goals; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology*; D011788:Quality of Life; D013038:Specialization