The Past and Future of Alcohol Dependence Treatment Research: A Review

Abstract

Over the last 40 years, considerable progress has been made in the treatment of alcoholism. Project MATCH at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism looked into the possibility of tailoring treatments for specific people to better suit their needs, and Project COMBINE at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism looked into in-depth cognitive behavioral therapy and medical management. These studies helped pave the way for a new approach to alcoholism treatment. The issue was further characterized by new results from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions. The creation of methods to define, assess, and monitor fidelity to a specific conceptual psychotherapeutic approach has been at the core of this study, allowing for unambiguous comparisons across conceptually and technically different approaches. Scientific technique and statistics advancements have given methods for analyzing large datasets. The results are a step up from the initial treatment models created decades ago, which tended to be based on anecdotal evidence and assumptions. Scientists can now go on and tackle the next set of problems thanks to their hard work. Future research, in combination with a reformed treatment system capable of quickly disseminating new scientific discoveries to the public, holds the key to substantially enhancing treatment outcomes and decreasing the suffering caused by alcohol-related illnesses.