An Evaluation of the Aversion Treatment of Alcoholism

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Abstract
This is a follow-up study on 4,096 patients treated during a period of 13 yrs. by the conditioned-reflex method. 44% remained abstinent since their first treatment; 60% remained abstinent for 1 yr. or longer; 51% for 2 yrs. or longer; 38% for 5 yrs. or longer; 23% for 10 yrs. or longer after their first treatment. Of 878 who relapsed and were treated again, during these 13 yrs., 39% remained abstinent since their last treatment. This gives an over-all abstinence rate of 51% for the period covered by this survey. The conditioned-reflex or aversion treatment of alcoholism is of value mainly for the better circumstanced type of alcoholic patient. Indigent, inadequate, psychopathic or extremely neurotic patients only occasionally respond to the conditioned-reflex treatment. Although all who apply are accepted for treatment, there is an automatic selection favoring patients who are ready to undergo the treatment voluntarily and able to pay a substantial fee. It is possible to evaluate the effectiveness of the various therapies of alcoholism as objectively as those of cancer, tuberculosis and many other medical conditions. Conditioned-reflex therapy does not preclude other types of treatment for alcoholism and can be used with them in any combination most advantageous for the individual patient.

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