Family systems and alcohol misuse: Research on the effects of alcoholism on family functioning and effective family interventions.

Abstract

This article reviews the most prominent research at the interface between studies of alcohol addiction and family systems psychology. The review addresses the general effects of alcohol misuse on family functioning as determined in empirical studies comparing healthy families, alcohol afflicted families, and otherwise troubled families. Three factors ("dry" versus "wet" families, family development and the progression of alcoholism, and family structure) are identified as particularly relevant to understanding the treatment needs of families affected by alcohol misuse. Research examining the general efficacy of family interventions in the treatment of alcoholism and specific treatment considerations unique to treating families coping with alcohol misuse are reviewed.Decades of clinical practice and research have demonstrated conclusively that alcoholism has a pervasive detrimental impact on family life. Alcoholism contributes to marital and family discord, loss of employment and difficulty sustaining job perfor-

Enabling behavior in a clinical sample of alcohol-dependent clients and their partners

“…Alcohol or other drug dependence in adults typically impairs relationship, family and child functioning in various ways (Collins, Leonard, & Searles, 1990;Jacob, 1992;Jacob & Seilhamer, 1987;Rotunda, Scherer, & Imm, 1995;Velleman et al, 1993;West & Prinz, 1987). One aspect of the field of addiction that has generated significant study is the relationship between the substance-dependent person and the family, the ways in which addiction affects the behavior of the entire family, and how significant others have participated in treatment to aid recovery.…”

Testing the validity of an instrument for assessing family of origin history

“…Parental chemical dependency (CD) and incest were used as criterion variables because they are relatively clear risk factors for family dysfunction (for reviews, see Faust, Runyon, & Kenny, 1995;Rotunda, Sherer, & Imm, 1995). Clinical status was also used as a predictor of low family functioning.…”

Understanding and managing expressed emotion in the couples treatment of alcoholism

“…Alcoholics and their families demonstrated higher levels of negativity, conflict, criticism, and estrangement and lower levels of family cohesion and communication (for a review see Rotunda, Scherer, & Imm, 1995). However, studies that have compared couples and families of alcoholics to nonalcoholic but distressed families found similarly dysfunctional processes.…”