Family-oriented treatment for people with alcohol problems in Ireland: a comparison of residential and community-based programmes

Using a naturalistic design involving consecutive referrals self-selected for family-oriented treatment, 42 participants from a residential programme (mean age 42 yrs) and 25 participants from a community-based programme (mean age 40 yrs) were assessed on a range of alcohol-use and psychosocial measures before treatment. A proportion of these cases were assessed after treatment and at 6 mo follow-up. At 6 mo follow-up 79% of both the residential and community groups were either abstinent or drinking moderately. More members of the residential group were abstinent at follow-up compared with the community group. More members of the community group were moderate drinkers at follow-up compared with the residential group. At 6 mo followup, compared with the community group, more members of the residential group showed a clinically significant reduction in recent negative consequences of drinking and psychological adjustment problems. Both groups made significant mean gains on indices of alcohol abuse and psychosocial adjustment but there were important intergroup differences. The residential group showed a greater mean reduction in recent negative consequences from drinking but the community group showed a greater mean reduction in the percentage of days’ heavy drinking.