Application of dyadic adjustment scale in the systemic family therapy for alcoholism

Conceptions about marriage with alcoholic relations (based on empirical and clinical research by domestic and foreign authors) are presented in the introductory part of the paper, followed by evaluations of marital (family) therapies and conclusions about its importance in treating alcoholism. The study has included 200 marital couples (husband-alcoholic) on therapy in three psychiatric institutions from Belgrade. Dyadic Adjustment Scale test has been applied, measuring (in three time points - on the beginning, in six months, and after one year of therapy) marital couple cohesion, satisfaction (with marital relations), emotional expression and consensus. The results show the existence of firm alcoholic marital system at the beginning of the treatment, with low consensus and high satisfaction, which has been deconstructing and changing over time and forming more functional (healthier) marital relationship. Couples (17) that self-excluded from the therapy in first two months have been compared with the sample of couples, which successfully completed the treatment. Differences (lower score on DAS) have been noted from the beginning - weaker marital dyad, in comparison to couples that completed the treatment. The results showed that system family (marital) therapy had influenced significant changes in marital relations - higher consensus, stronger emotional expression and cohesion, as well as satisfaction with non-alcoholic marital relations during one-year treatment