Values in Alcohol Use Disorders

The decision-making process related to the treatment of alcohol use disorders involves bringing together complex and conflicting values. Several pharmacological and psychotherapeutic options with comparable efficacy are available for the management of alcohol use disorders care and the final goals of the treatment must be individualized for each patient, some aiming at abstinence, others carrying out treatments centered on harm reduction. Even so, physicians traditionally take full responsibility for the course of care. In order to build an individualized treatment, centered on patient’s values, shared decisions between the clinical team, family, and patient are necessary. This reinforces the need to know preferences, what is important for them during treatment and to engage them in the decision-making process. In this way, it is possible, through the development of a stronger therapeutic alliance, to communicate to the patient the options for the treatment, listen to their needs, and stimulate him or her to take responsibility for the choices while making decisions with the stakeholders, including the clinical staff. Consequently, knowing the values of all steps of this process is crucial for structuring the treatment is indispensable and leads to an increase of the effectiveness of the therapeutic approach to alcohol use disorders.