Psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy in alcoholism

The term psychotherapy with respect to alcoholism means all therapeutic interventions including individual and group psychotherapy and various forms of counselling. After the initial contact the treatment of alcoholics can be classified into detoxification, inpatient treatment and rehabilitation phase. Psychotherapeutic interventions are possible in all these phases. Catamnestic studies prove the efficacy of inpatient treatment programs with abstinence rates ranging between 30% and 50%. Anti-craving-drugs which can be used for relapse prevention represent a new pharmacotherapeutic option in the treatment of alcoholism. Both the NMDA-modulator acamprosate and the opiate antagonist naltrexone are possible pharmacological agents in relapse prevention of alcoholism. Chances and limitations of psychotherapeutic and pharmacotherapeutic interventions in alcoholics are reviewed.