Effects of Various Sources of Coercion on Outcome of Treatment of Alcoholism

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Abstract
Nine sources of coercion were examined: the client's employer, spouse, friends, relatives and children, and the clients' concerns over health, finances, legal consequences and self-respect. Perceived influence from these sources was related to treatment outcome for 123 alcoholics (120 males) who had participated in a multi-modal, behaviorally oriented treatment program. For the entire sample, there was a significant drop in perceived influence from the clients' spouses and children and also from clients' concerns over health and self-respect. When coercion data were related to drinking outcome one year after treatment, “abstainers” showed a significant drop in scores on several measures, while unimproved subjects showed no change, or a rise, in scores on the coercion measures. Coercion may be necessary to lead many alcoholics to treatment, but data suggested that a drop in the pressure may be required if drinking patterns ate to be changed.