Date of Award

1-1-2011

Language

English

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

College/School/Department

School of Social Welfare

Content Description

1 online resource (iii, 111 pages)

Dissertation/Thesis Chair

Barry M Loneck

Committee Members

Lynn Warner, Benjamin Hayden

Keywords

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Drinking and Driving, DWI, Recidivist DWI arrests, Cognitive therapy, Drunk driving, Recidivists, Alcoholics

Subject Categories

Psychology | Social and Behavioral Sciences | Social Work

Abstract

Social work research on evidence based practices in the area of driving while intoxicated could add to the development of reasoned policies essential to resource allocation. The purpose of this longitudinal study was to evaluate differences over time in DWI recidivism among defendants with multiple DWI offenses after receiving a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) curriculum. A convenience sample of defendants on Probation supervision with histories of repeated DWI offenses (N = 286; m = 240, f = 46) were referred to the CBT program which was delivered by a clinical psychologist. Major findings included a significant difference at the .05 level in DWI recidivism rate three years after CBT program completion among participants (11%) and the NYS (25%) and National (30%). Comparing alcohol related arrests before attending the CBT program, re-arrests were less frequent after the program. Level of Service Inventory - Revised scores of the treatment group also decreased significantly compared with those of the control group, and treatment group participants showed significant improvement in overall functioning measured by GAF. Inpatient treatment history, social support and marital status were each found to be associated with DWI recidivism rate. The results indicated CBT offered in this innovative manner may be more effective than traditional treatment with recalcitrant, hard to treat, DWI offenders. It may also be considered for those offenders who are pre-contemplative and resistant to treatment as a means of assisting them in recognizing their drinking is negatively impacting their lives and their drinking may warrant more traditional alcohol treatment.

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