Therapeutic alliance and treatment compliance: Technical methodology in addictions

The therapeutic alliance, the basis of the concept of adherence to treatment of any curative-rehabilitative activity, faces various impediments that influence to the health personnel responsible for promoting a successful treatment of patients with addictive disease and its comorbidities. Herein it is presented a concise review of psychodynamic elements that evidence the importance of technical and methodological factors recommended in the literature for a successful approach to the mechanisms that restrict therapeutic practice in these patients and their families. All of them, given the psychopathological characteristics, behave in a special way and require more comprehensive and combined approaches on management schemes, constant monitoring and evaluation to encourage a better long-term evolution. Limited by their complex health condition, the sufferers and their therapists will consolidate the changes that enable engagement and a effective involvement. Attachment styles affect the therapist-patient dynamics; therefore, it is a specific task of the health professional to promote the development of a better participation and to invigorate the patient's desire for improvement. Besides, this professional behavior sets pragmatic guide for the beginner in psychotherapeutics. This selfmonitoring-based learning promotes improvement and facilitates the complex management processes.