Abstract
Study of a clinical case of alcohol abuse treated by acceptance and commitment therapy. A clinical case study of alcohol abuse is presented. The subject's drinking behaviour had both desirable and undesirable consequences. The subject tried to assert control over the urge to drink. As shown in the functional analysis, the failur e to control the urge despite the best efforts worsened the problem due to its negative consequences. Acceptance and commitment therapy was applied in order to break down the fight-surrender vicious circle of the drinking behaviour. Two major treatment strategies were agreed upon: acceptance of the fact that both drinking and not dr inking had undesirable consequences and commitment to one of these options despite its disadvantages. Finally, it is proposed that acceptance and commitment is a useful therapeutic process as it leads the subject to behave with responsibility.
