[The relationship between self-efficacy and abstinence from alcohol after outpatient and inpatient treatment--a two year follow-up].

This study examines the relationship between (alcohol specific) self-efficacy expectancies and abstinence from alcohol measured at 3 follow-ups (t1 = 6, t2 = 12 and t3 = 24 months after treatment) in 3 groups of patients with different severity levels of their alcohol dependency. N = 169 patients were included (n = 65 outpatient treatment, n = 51 inpatient short-term and n = 53 inpatient long-term treatment). Self-efficacy was measured using the Alcohol Abstinence Self-Efficacy Scale (AASE). Treatment outcome was defined as complete abstinence from alcohol at time of follow-ups. The AASE differentiates reliably between abstinent and non-abstinent patients in each treatment group at the 3 follow-ups. Abstinent patients had significant higher scores in both of the two subscales confidence and temptation. The strongest relationship between AASE and treatment outcome could be found for subjects in short-term inpatient treatment. The impact of the results for clinical practice is discussed.