Community Reinforcement and Family Training (CRAFT) for Treatment-resistant Individuals With Alcohol Use Disorders

Psychosocial Intervention for Relatives of Individuals Suffering From Chronic Alcohol Dependence

The present study examines the efficacy of the Community Reinforcement and Family Training (CRAFT) for Concerned Significant Others (CSOs) of individuals with alcohol use disorders (AUDs) using a randomized waiting list (WL) control group. It is hypothesized that after the Intervention group has received CRAFT and prior to the WL- group having received CRAFT, treatment utilization of individuals with AUDs are substantially elevated in the Intervention group.

CRAFT is an evidence-based intervention aiming to promote treatment entry by treatment refusing individuals suffering from addiction by coaching their Concerned Significant others (e.g., family members). The intervention is based on diverse elements such as communication training, contingency management, functional analysis of problem behaviors and strategies to improve the live of CSOs and aims to rearrange contingencies in the natural environment of the drinkers so that clean behavior is reinforced and drinking behavior is effectively discouraged. The intervention was developed for adult CSOs and usually consists of up to 12 weekly face-to-face sessions with a duration of one hour each.

Inclusion Criteria:

• CSOs of individuals with an AUD according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-IV) or the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10)
• At least 18 years old
• At least 15 hours of contact per week to the addicted individual

Exclusion Criteria:

• History of severe domestic violence
• Current diagnosis of drug- or alcohol dependence of CSO