The influence of some elements of treatment programme on the level of self-esteem of alcohol dependent patients

Abstract

The main problem of the research was to evaluate differences between patients in early phase of alcohol dependency treatment and between patients of after-care phase of dependency treatment. The special interest was paid to the level of self-esteem in both groups of patients. Patients from in-patient treatment at Department for Alcohol Dependency Treatment of University Psychiatric Hospital Ljubljana (March to April 2002) were included in the first group (early phase of treatment) (n = 48). Patients from after-care groups (membership at least one year) were included in the second group (n = 52). The professional staff evaluated some aspects of the treatment programme (n = 14). The questionnaire with 26 questions was applied (demographic data, Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale and Lickert type of questions regarding psychosocial status of patients, stuff relations towards patients, elements of treatment programme and the quality of living conditions in the hospital). Results shows that all patients’ personal relations were significantly correlated with their level of self-esteem. The level of self-esteem was significantly higher in patients of after-care groups. Patients from after-care groups were also significantly more satisfied with their personal relations and with stuff relations towards them while they have been included in in-patient treatment. Results shows the stuff tendency to underestimate the usefulness of some elements of the treatment programme for the psychosocial functioning of the patients.