Cognitive-Behavioral Group Therapy for Multiple-DUI (Driving Under the Influence) Offenders (From Drunk Driving in America, P 47-65, Stephen K Valle, ed. - See NCJ-104432)

• NCJ Number: 104436
• Author(s): Rosenberg; T Brian
• Date Published: 1986
• Length: 19 pages
• Sale Source: Haworth Press, Inc
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

Marlatt's cognitive-behavioral model focusing on the absence of coping skills as the source of relapse and Elliss's rational-emotive therapy were used as bases to develop and assess group therapy programs for drunk driving offenders with multiple offenses.

Abstract

The 22 males in the study were referred to one of 3 groups (coping skills, rational-emotive therapy, and unstructured therapy). All 3 programs consisted of 16 sessions lasting 90 minutes each over a period of 6 months. All groups completed self-monitoring forms and received information about alcohol's effects and the laws related to it. The coping skills group learned problemsolving, relaxation, and assertiveness. The rational-emotive therapy group learned about emotions, distorted beliefs, perfectionistic attitudes, unrealistic needs for approval, irrational beliefs regarding past behavior, drinking in response to guilt, unrealistic expectancies about alcohol, anger, and self-pity. The unstructured group discussed any topic desired by participants as long as it was related to drinking and driving. A program evaluation battery administered before and after treatment found no differences among the two specific programs and the unstructured group on both drinking and nondrinking measures except assertiveness. The lack of differences may have resulted from subjects' reductions in drinking prior to entering therapy. The therapy programs appear to have clinical usefulness. Figure, sample behavioral contract, and 24 references.