Changes in families of alcoholics during a post-treatment period

Abstract

This article focuses on the changes experienced in families of alcoholics during a post-treatment period. 35 families were assessed on measures of family interaction (Self-Report Family Inventory), parental symptoms of psychological distress (Brief Symptom Inventory) and emotional and behavioural problems in children (Child Behaviour Check List, CBCL). The assessments were done at the beginning of the treatment programme and again between 6 and 12 months later (follow-up). Children of alcoholics showed significantly fewer symptoms of ADHD and conduct disorder, and spouses experienced a lower general level of psychological distress and fewer symptoms of depression at follow-up compared to the first assessment. The alcoholics showed no improvement in symptoms of psychological distress but experienced significantly more symptoms of phobic anxiety at follow-up. We found no improvement in measures of family interaction in the follow-up period. Improvement in children's and spouses' psychosocial functioning in the follow-up period was unrelated to alcoholics' restitution. For specific CBCL dimensions, we found better treatment effects for older children (>11 years), for boys and for children of alcoholics in outpatient treatment. Taking into account the small study population, the relatively short follow-up period and the fact that all initial data were gathered after the alcoholic had been in treatment for a while, the results of this study should be interpreted with some caution and need to be validated in other studies.