The effect of a solution-focused approach to the dynamics in the severity of anxiety and depression symptoms at alcohol dependence

Abstract

Purpose: To examine the effect of the Solution-Focused Approach to the dynamics in the severity of anxiety and depression symptoms in people with alcohol dependence. Methods: The research was carried out with 60 voluntarily hospitalized patients with alcohol dependence. Before their admission to the Ward Addiction Treatment, a HADS scale recorded the presence of anxiety and depression symptoms. Patients were included on random in experimental and control groups with stratification of identity counting the demographic factors and the characteristics of their illness. Medication therapy was applied to both groups in compliance with their personal needs. On the 7th and 14th day of the treatment, the experimental group was additionally involved in two one-hour solution-focused individual sessions without other psychological interventions. On the 1st, 10th and 20th day of the treatment, the HAM-A scale was applied to assess the severity of the anxiety symptoms, as well as the HAM-D 17 scale for depression symptoms. Variations at р≤0.01were considered statistically significant. Results: The severity of the anxiety and depression symptoms was reduced in the experimental group thanks to the effect of the solution-focused sessions. Conclusions: On a pharmacotherapy background, the solution-focused approach to alcohol dependence lessens the severity of anxiety and depression symptoms more effectively than the solely medication intake.