An experimental study of brief unilateral intervention for the partners of heavy drinkers

This article reports on a controlled field experiment into the effectiveness of a brief unilateral intervention for the partners of heavy drinkers. Forty-five women and 3 men whose partners were both dependent on alcohol and highly resistant to change were randomly allocated to 4 experimental conditions: (a) unilateral intervention on an individual basis, (b) unilateral intervention within a group, (c) a no-treatment waiting list and (d) traditional Al-Anon groups. Results revealed that both forms of the unilateral intervention, which is referred to as Pressures to Change, were successful in promoting change in the drinker whereas neither of the alternatives was. However only when Pressures to Change was offered on an individual basis did the client her- or himself report reductions in personal problems. Similar reductions were also reported by Al-Anon participants. Individual Pressures to Change was also the only intervention to produce improvements in marital consensus. The need for longitudinal research into partner interventions is identified.