Therapy Method: Purpose, Illustrative Cases, and Disputes
Taking a Tough Stand: A Look at Aversion Therapy
Let's dive into the world of aversion therapy, a behavioral treatment that links undesirable actions with unfavorable experiences to discourage such behavior. It's also called "aversive conditioning" or "deterrent therapy."
Most often, people undergo this therapy to tackle habits relating to addiction, such as smoking or alcohol abuse. However, it's less common than other treatments for substance use disorders.
Aversion therapy has a history of stirring up controversy, with some mental health experts deeming it as questionable due to its long-term effectiveness and ethics.
Shining a Light on the Objective
Aversion therapy aims to deter unwanted behaviors by creating a negative association through repeated pairing. Let’s look at the types of behaviors it might help manage:
- scratching that nasty nail-biting itch
- crushing the ciggie in your hand (cough, cough, smoking)
- dealing with the bobbing ball in the casino (gambling addiction)
Some Fascinating Examples
Here are a few real-life examples of aversion therapy:
Nausea-induced Counteraction
This type of therapy aims to reduce alcohol cravings in drinkers by making them sick after consuming alcohol. Through several sessions, a person takes a medicine inducing nausea and vomiting while still savoring a variety of boozy beverages. The goal? To develop a dislike for the taste of alcohol.
Grotesque Health Warnings
Warning labels on cigarette packs across 118 countries show disturbing health consequences of smoking, such as diseased lungs and cancerous tumors. They serve as a protective measure because they connect the act of smoking with unpleasant visuals.
Speedy Smoking
In rapid smoking, an individual rapidly puffs on a cigarette every few seconds to provoke unpleasant sensations. This practice aims to reduce nicotine addiction, but a 2016 review suggests it's not an effective long-term solution.
Elastic Bands and OCD
Rubber band aversion therapy (RBAT) is used for treating OCD. The person wears a rubber band on their wrist and snaps it every time they have an obsessive thought. The association is that obsessive thoughts cause pain, which the person then aims to avoid. A 2010 review, however, shows RBAT to be ineffective for managing OCD.
Does it Work?
Research indicates that aversion therapy can curb addictive behaviors in the short term. For example, a 2017 study investigating the impact of nausea-induced counteraction on alcohol use disorder showed that 69% of participants remained alcohol-free after a year. However, questions remain about the therapy's long-term effectiveness.
Controversial Natives
Aversion therapy has faced criticism from mental health experts because it uses punishment, which they feel is inhumane. Its history is also tainted by the use of conversion therapy on homosexuality, a practice that's now widely challenged.
So, there you have it—aversion therapy: a controversial, short-term solution for addiction issues, dogged by ethics and questions about its long-term effectiveness. While it has shown some promise, alternative therapies like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and motivational interviewing may offer more compassionate and sustainable solutions.
Aversion therapy, often criticized for its ethics and long-term effectiveness, is a behavioral treatment that links undesirable actions with unfavorable experiences, such as nausea-induced counteraction for alcohol addiction or rubber band aversion therapy for OCD, to deter unwanted behaviors. Although it can curb addictive behaviors in the short term, as seen in a 2017 study on alcohol use disorder, many experts question if it is a sustainable solution. Alternative therapies like psychology-based approaches such as psychotherapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), or self-help methods rooted in health-and-wellness and mental-health practices, may provide more effective and compassionate therapies-and-treatments for addressing addiction and mental health issues.
