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Aversive Therapy

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Aversive Therapy
Aversive Therapy
According to Heather and Stockwell (2003) Aversive therapies are intended to lessen the reinforcing properties of alcohol drinking by altering demeanour of drinking-related cues from helpful to harmful through counter-conditioning techniques. In this therapy an aversive unconditioned stimulus is paired with alcohol use which then results into avoiding drinking through experiencing that aversive conditioned response upon drinking (Heather & Stockwell, 2003). Two most effective aversive stimuli are electric shock and nausea inducing drugs like disulfiram and calcium carbimide (Heather & Stockwell, 2003). However, despite of being supported empirically, aversive therapy techniques might work only for early abstinence and has not

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