Alcohol & Alcoholism Vol. 39, No. 2, pp. 141-145, 2004
Alcohol & Alcoholism Vol. 39, No. 2 © Medical Council on Alcohol 2004; all rights reserved.
WISHES AND EXPECTATIONS OF ALCOHOLIC PATIENTS CONCERNING THEIR THERAPY
1 Medical School Hannover, Hannover and 2 Johann-Wolfgang-Goethe-University, Frankfurt, Germany
* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed at: Medical School Hannover, Department of Clinical Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, D-30625 Hannover, Germany. Tel.: +49511/5326559; Fax: +49511/5322415; E-mail: schneider.udo{at}mh-hannover.de
(Received 30 July 2003; first review notified 15 October 2003; in revised form 19 November 2003; accepted 6 December 2003)
Aim: To assess the wishes and expectations of alcoholic patients concerning their therapy. Methods: 227 alcohol-dependent patients from three sites in two cities in Germany completed a questionnaire about their aspirations for the outcome (20 items) and their expectations about the elements (23 items) of treatment. Results: Some components of treatment were equally important to men and women (a life without alcohol, individual sessions during therapy). Women attached more importance than men to ‘strengthening of self-esteem’ and ‘an environment of tranquillity and security’. Most patients in this study were aware of their alcohol dependence, which limits the generalizability of these results to patients at earlier stages of recovery. Conclusion: Patients request individual, patient-oriented treatment. Some differences in expectations between men and women suggest that a gendered approach in treatment could mean an increase in patients' satisfaction, and thus a decrease in drop-outs.