Psychosocial effects management

Using a primary-care model of treatment, O Malley et al. (2003) initially treated alcohol-dependent patients with open-label naltrexone for 10 weeks, in combination with either CBT or primary care management (PCM), a less intensive, supportive approach. They found no effect of psychosocial treatment on response to treatment, although CBT was associated with a lower risk of drinking. Treatment responders from this study were then randomly assigned to one of two placebo-controlled 24-week continuation studies in... 

Once the crash has abated, the patient should be reassessed and treatment recommendations made. Psychosocial treatments are the mainstay of treatment for cocaine addicts. Intensive outpatient programs and partial hospitalization programs are most effective during the initial phase of treatment. Psychotherapy and self-help treatment can help the patient devise means to manage craving and sustain sobriety. 

For most children and adolescents, multimodal therapies are recommended. However, if antidepressant medications are used alone, psychosocial maintenance strategies should be implemented to help the patient manage inner and interpersonal conflicts, improve coping and social skills, deal with the psychosocial and personal scars left by the depression, and improve academic and social functioning. The reduction of family stress, promotion of a supportive environment, and the effective treatment of parents and siblings with psychiatric disorders may also help diminish the risk for... 

Effective, efficient, and comprehensive helping relationships require that social workers recognize other forms of treatments that could potentially be more effective for their clients. Alternative forms of intervention can also serve as a preventive measure to ensure a client s well being. As providers of stress management strategies, relaxation techniques, and psychosocial interventions that can be incorporated into alternative therapies, social workers need to be aware of these techniques and remedies. Keeping abreast of all forms of treatment is important to provide the best possible care for our clients, while discouraging the use of medications and herbal preparations as the only form of intervention when other alternatives can be just as effective. 

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