Reduced Craving and Change in Locus of Control as a Result of Motivational Enhancement Therapy in Patients with Alcohol Dependence Syndrome

Alcohol and drug dependence disorder is characterized by a chronic course with frequent relapses. Various psychosocial and physiological factors have been identified which predict relapse in alcohol dependence Craving and locus of control can be prominent factors of relapse in patients with alcohol dependence. In this study, sample consisted of 30 patients with the diagnosis of mental and behavior disorders due to use of alcohol, currently using the substance (active dependence) and fulfilling the inclusion and exclusion criterion. This was a hospital based prospective intervention study of pre-post design. All the patients received Motivational Enhancement Therapy for 3 weeks and assessed on craving and locus of control before and after MET. The analysis included descriptive statistics and paired t test. Results show that there was significant difference in all the domain of craving and locus of control (p < 0.001). After Motivational Enhancement Therapy patients showed reduced craving and started to attribute their drinking behavior internally. Thus, it can be concluded that Motivational Enhancement Therapy had significant role maintaining abstinence in patients with alcohol dependence.