Comprehensive exams for Mental Health Q 135
A male client has approached the nurse asking for advice on how to deal with his alcohol addiction. Nurse Sally should tell the client that the only effective treatment for alcoholism is:
A. Psychotherapy
B. Total abstinence
C. Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)
D. Aversion therapy
Correct Answer B. Total abstinence
Total abstinence is the only effective treatment for alcoholism. For people who have severe alcohol use disorder, this is a key step. The goal is to stop drinking and give the body time to get the alcohol out of the system. That usually takes a few days to a week. Psychotherapy, attendance at AA meetings, and aversion therapy are all adjunctive therapies that can support the client in his efforts to abstain.
Option A: With alcohol use disorder, controlling your drinking is only part of the answer. You also need to learn new skills and strategies to use in everyday life. Psychologists, social workers, or alcohol counselors can teach you how to change the behaviors that make you want to drink; deal with stress and other triggers; build a strong support system; and set goals and reach them.
Option C: Group therapy or a support group can help during rehab and help the client stay on track as life gets back to normal. Group therapy, led by a therapist, can give the client the benefits of therapy along with the support of other members. Support groups aren’t led by therapists. Instead, these are groups of people who have alcohol use disorder. Examples include Alcoholics Anonymous, SMART Recovery, and other programs. The peers can offer understanding and advice and help keep the client accountable. Many people stay in groups for years.
Option D: Aversion therapy is a type of behavioral therapy that involves repeatedly pairing an unwanted behavior with discomfort. For example, a person undergoing aversion therapy to stop smoking might receive an electrical shock every time they view an image of a cigarette. The goal of the conditioning process is to make the individual associate the stimulus with unpleasant or uncomfortable sensations.