Drogodependencias juvenilesrevisión sobre la utilidad de los abordajes terapéuticos basados en la familia

Abstract

In this article the authors make a brief review on the last works published in which the utility and efficacy of the relationship approaches in the treatment of different psychopathological entities and specifically on that of drug dependences are evaluated. This review clearly shows that using family therapy as a component of the treatment programs helps adherence of the patients and their families, also improving the post-treatment functioning both in the decrease of the use of substances as well as in other variables of good evolution (they decrease behavior disorder related to substance abuse and improve family and social insertion and function). The last two meta-analyses reviewed on the efficacy of family based approaches have showed that this therapeutic intervention is better than individual counseling, peer group therapy or family psychoeducation (with or without methadone maintenance program). Some important questions still must be answered, as, for example: What elements related with the family dysfunction in the substance abuse disorder are targets of the family therapy?, And, what is the role of the therapeutic relationship on the treatment outcome?