Faculty Articles
Treatment of Substance Abuse by Relaxation Training: A Review of Its Rationale, Efficacy and Mechanisms.
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1984
Publication Title
Addictive Behaviors
Volume
9
Issue/Number
1
First Page
41
ISSN
0306-4603
Last Page
55
Abstract/Excerpt
The efficacy of relaxation training as a treatment for alcohol and drug abuse is reviewed, and directions for future research derived. Such use of relaxation procedures, notably progressive muscular relaxation and meditation, has been widespread and is premised on the assumptions that substance abuse is causally linked to anxiety and that anxiety can be reduced by relaxation training. However, the evidence suggests that such precipitating anxiety is limited to interpersonal-stress situations involving diminished perceived personal control over the stressor, and that alcohol and other drugs are often consumed for their euphoric rather than tranquilizing effects. Consequently, the empirical support for the effectiveness of relaxation training as a treatment for substance abuse in general is equivocal. As well, the existing outcome studies suffer from numerous methodological and conceptual inadequacies. In cases of demonstrated effectiveness, increased perceived control is a more plausible explanation than is decreased anxiety.
DOI
10.1016/0306-4603(84)90006-6
NSUWorks Citation
Klajner, F.,
Hartman, L. M.,
Sobell, M. B.
(1984). Treatment of Substance Abuse by Relaxation Training: A Review of Its Rationale, Efficacy and Mechanisms.. Addictive Behaviors, 9(1), 41-55.
Available at: https://nsuworks.nova.edu/cps_facarticles/102
