The British Journal of Psychiatry 145: 45-48 (1984)
© 1984 The Royal College of Psychiatrists
Alcohol and sedative drug use in neurotic outpatients
DS Samarasinghe, S Tilley and IM Marks
One hundred and six adult neurotic patients attending a behavioural
psychotherapy unit were asked about their use of alcohol and other drugs
and the perceived anxiolytic effect of these substances. Their drinking
behaviour was not significantly different from that of the general
population. Alcohol and other drugs were not perceived as reliable
anxiolytics and not regularly used as such. Where alcohol or drug abuse
coexist with anxiety-related problems, it is helpful to ask the patient to
withdraw from these substances prior to starting behavioural therapy of the
latter. We ask patients having behavioural therapy to refrain from alcohol
or drug use prior to therapy or homework tasks.