Behavioral Couples Therapy for Substance Use Disorders

Abstract

The results of numerous studies over the past four decades have consistently revealed the effectiveness of couple and family-based approaches for drug and alcohol abuse. Behavioral couples therapy (BCT) is a conjoint approach which has been consistently shown to produce fewer substance-related issues, greater abstinence, and improved dyadic functioning compared to individual-based treatments for married and cohabitating couples. The purpose of the present review is to (a) provide the theoretical rationale for the use of couple’s therapy for substance-abusing patients and (b) describe theoretical and practical underpinnings of Behavioral couples therapy for substance use disorders (BCT-SUD) along with key components of this intervention.