Treating Alcohol Dependence: A Coping Skills Training Guide

Now in a revised and expanded second edition, this book presents a straightforward, multi-session coping skills training program that has been proven effective in helping alcohol-dependent individuals. The volume provides everything needed to implement the program, including a clear theoretical and empirical rationale, step-by-step session guidelines, helpful clinical pointers, and over 40 reproducible client handouts, assessment instruments, and therapist forms. Sessions focus on developing key interpersonal and intrapersonal skills to help participants learn positive strategies for coping with the everyday demands of life and resisting the urge to drink. Updated throughout to reflect current ideas and research findings on addictive behavior change, the protocols in the second edition have been reorganized and streamlined for greater applicability in today's managed care settings. Two entirely new chapters provide guidelines for conducting cue exposure treatment and addressing dual diagnosis issues, with particular attention to tobacco dependence. Of special value for practitioners, the new 8 ½" x 11" format makes it easier than ever to reproduce and use the practical materials in the book.

Doody Review Services

Reviewer:Gary B Kaniuk, Psy.D.(Cermak Health Services)
Description:This is a detailed coping skills training guide for addressing alcohol dependent clients. It includes training to deal with interpersonal skills, intrapersonal skills, and coping with urges. This second edition addresses changes in the field including health maintenance organizations, pharmacological treatments for alcohol dependence, motivation enhancement strategies which prepare clients for change, and dual-diagnosis. The first edition was published in 1989.
Purpose:According to the authors, the book presents a cognitive-social learning perspective on alcohol abuse and dependence. The authors believe that clients who learn a variety of alternative coping techniques to address the demands of everyday living will be better able to resist alcohol. These are worthy objectives because so many people suffer from alcoholism and treatment in 28 day programs is becoming less and less common. The book meets the author's objectives.
Audience:The authors do not specifically say whom the target audience is but it is obvious that it is written for the practitioner who treats alcohol-dependent individuals. I believe that the book is a pragmatic guide for the practitioner in the field. The authors are credible authorities.
Features:This book is a skills training manual for treating alcohol-dependent individuals. The skills are thoroughly described including rationale, modeling, role play, and practice exercise. The book helps the practitioner to teach practical coping skills to the client. It is very readable and covers a wide variety of areas within interpersonal, intrapersonal, and urge coping domains.
Assessment:The book is excellent because it is a step-by-step training guide. It would be of great help for the novice therapist but has enough ideas for even the most seasoned veteran. This second edition does justify replacing the previous edition given that the first one was published over a decade ago and that there are new issues which have arisen. The influence of managed care, reduction of 28-day programs, pharmacological treatment strategies, and dual diagnosis concerns are variables which have influenced the way we do our work.

Full author listing (see below for About the Authors blurbs):
Peter M. Monti, PhD, Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, Brown University, Ronald M. Kadden, PhD, Department of Psychiatry, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT, Damaris J. Rohsenow, PhD, Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, Brown University, Providence, RI, Ned L. Cooney, PhD, Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, and David B. Abrams, PhD, Centers for Behavioral and Preventive Medicine, Brown Medical School and The Miriam Hospital, Providence, RI

About the Authors Peter M. Monti, PhD, is Professor of Medical Science and Director of the Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies and the Clinical Psychology Internship Consortium at Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island. He is coeditor of Adolescents, Alcohol, and Substance Abuse and coauthor (with David B. Abrams et al.) of a forthcoming book on nicotine dependence.

Ronald M. Kadden, PhD, is currently Professor of Psychology in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine. He is an attending psychologist in the Alcohol, Drug Abuse, and Psychiatric Day Hospital Program at the UConn Health Center.

Damaris J. Rohsenow, PhD, is Professor (Research) of Community Health and Research Director at the Addictive Behaviors Lab, Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, Brown University. She is also a Research Career Scientist at the Providence VA Medical Center in Providence, Rhode Island.

Ned L. Cooney, PhD, is Associate Professor of Psychiatry at Yale University School of Medicine and Director of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Programs at the Newington Campus of the VA Connecticut Healthcare System.

David B. Abrams, PhD, is Professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior at Brown Medical School/The Miriam Hospital, where he is also Director of the Centers for Behavioral and Preventive Medicine.