Alcoholism in Women Treatment Modalities and Outcomes

Shame and Guilt Issues Among Women Alcoholics

“…There are several reports in the literature that women alcoholics (and women narcotic addicts, women schizophrenics, etc) are "poorer patients," usually defined as noisier, more rebellious, and more demanding. And there is the widespread belief that women who enter treatment have poorer prognosis than men who enter treatment, although the evidence is sparse and there is little support for significant gender differences in recovery (Annis & Liban, 1980). An examination of one of these charges: maternal alcoholism has more destructive effects on children than paternal alcoholism, shows mixed evidence.…”

Women with alcohol problems: a psycho‐social perspective

“…Given the predominance of men seeking help for alcohol-related problems, it is hardly surprising that the alcohol treatment industry is primarily designed for the treatment needs of male clients. Research has tended to reflect this domination, with treatment studies largely ignoring gender differences, leading Annis [4] to comment that literature concerning the treatment of women with alcohol-related problems has been dominated by rhetoric, hypothesis, and speculation supplemented by the occasional clinical observation and case history.., and hence has contributed to the development of a sizable body of myth and speculation.…”

The recovering female alcoholic: A family affair

“…With a basis in systems theory, family therapy views the family as a system and, hence, perceives the alcoholism as a symptom of that family. A profile of the female alcoholic, how her drinking affects her family, and the rote that family therapy plays in the recovery process are examined.KEY WORDS: alcoholism; family therapy; women.It is generally accepted that female alcoholics vary substantially from their male counterparts (Annis & Leban, 1980; Curlee, 1979;Gomberg, 1981Gomberg, , 1987Gomberg, Nelson, & Hatchett, 1991;Olenick & Chalmers, 1991;Smart, 1979; Sorell, Silvia & Busch-Rossnagel, 1993;Vannicelli, 1984). Given that women alcoholics have a distinct etiology and suffer differently than men alcoholics, it follows that these variations should be reflected in treatment programs.…”