The DOI matches its Crossref record; 87 of the 87 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Review of Outcome Research on Marital and Family Therapy in Treatment for Alcoholism
Open accessAbstract
This review of controlled studies of marital and family therapy (MFT) in alcoholism treatment updates the earlier review by O’Farrell and Fals‐Stewart (2003). We conclude that, when the alcoholic is unwilling to seek help, MFT is effective in helping the family cope better and motivating alcoholics to enter treatment. Specifically, both Al‐Anon facilitation and referral and spouse coping skills training (based on new findings) help family members cope better, and CRAFT promotes treatment entry and was successfully transported to a community clinic in a new study. Once the alcoholic enters treatment, MFT, particularly behavioral couples therapy (BCT), is clearly more effective than individual treatment at increasing abstinence and improving relationship functioning. New BCT studies showed efficacy with women alcoholics and with gay and lesbian alcoholics, and BCT was successfully transported to a community clinic, a brief BCT version was tested, and BCT was adapted for family members other than spouses. Future studies should evaluate the following: MFT with couples where both members have a current alcohol problem and with minority patients, mechanisms of change, transportability of evidence‐based MFT approaches to clinical practice settings, and replication of MFT outcomes of reduced partner violence and improved child functioning.
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“Al-Anon Family Groups (Al-Anon), a 12-step mutual-help program, is the most widely-used form of help in the US for concerned other people (COs) who are family and friends of problem-drinking individuals.1–3”
From Al-Anon family groups' newcomers and members: Concerns about the drinkers in their lives: Concerns About Drinkers in Al-Anon (2014) · cites this paper as [2]
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“These results suggest that studies of couples and family treatments for substance use problems should expand outcome domains and interventions beyond the primary foci of reduced substance use and increased relationship satisfaction.2”
From Al-Anon family groups' newcomers and members: Concerns about the drinkers in their lives: Concerns About Drinkers in Al-Anon (2014) · cites this paper as [2]
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“the problematic relationships reported by Al-Anon attendees support the idea that COs and their drinkers are often in need of relationship counseling.2”
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Metadata
- Authors
- O’Farrell, T. J., & Clements, K.
- Affiliations
- Harvard University (US)
- Corresponding author
- O’Farrell, Timothy J.
- Venue
- Journal of Marital and Family Therapy
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2011-08-30
- Volume
- 38
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 122-144
- ISSN
- 0194-472X (ISSN-L)
- 1752-0606
- PMC
- PMC3270890
- OpenAlex
- W2126751162
- Cited by
- 174
- References
- 86
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 13 · 2020: 19 · 2019: 16 · 2018: 12 · 2017: 12 · 2016: 24 · 2015: 15 · 2014: 19 · 2013: 11 · 2012: 4
- FWCI
- 1.28
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- europepmc.org
- Locations
- Journal of Marital and Family Therapy (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (R01AA017865)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Counseling, Therapy, and Family Dynamics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychotherapy Techniques and Applications
- Keywords
- marital and family therapy, alcoholism treatment, behavioral couples therapy, Al-Anon, crafts, treatment entry, abstinence, relationship functioning, women alcoholics, family coping, intimate partner violence, child functioning
- MeSH terms
- Adaptation, Psychological, Alcoholism, Attitude to Health, Counseling, Female, Humans, Male, Marital Therapy, Patient Compliance, Research Design, Sex Factors, Outcome Assessment, Health Care, Homosexuality, Male, Homosexuality, Female, Self Efficacy, Behavior Control, Evidence-Based Practice
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