RU2145889C1 - Method for treating the cases of alcoholism - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: medicine. SUBSTANCE: method involves applying psychotherapeutic talks and clearing the aims of treatment. Then the patient is suggested to remember some events in his life associated to wish for giving up drinking, invoking visual, auditory and kinesthetic associations. The given state is fixed at the moment of the most complete access to each of the remembered events by means of the first conditional stimulus in touching some known area of the human body. Then the patient is suggested to remember several events preceding alcohol intoxication and some alcohol-induced adverse effects. Physiological parameters being changed, the coming state is fixed by means of the second conditional stimulus in touching another area on the body. Then indirect trance induction is carried out. Wordless communication system is built using ideomotor movements. To improve suggestibility, subconsciousness part formulation is built responsible for the problem. Then, addressing this subconsciousness part in direct way, it is suggested to analyze all the events associated to alcohol consumption. The so produced state is fixed with the second conditional stimulus. The first and the second stimuli being concurrently applied, both states integration is to be achieved. The integration being completed, the task is set to let patient realize that each behavior pattern is motivated by some positive intention. Then the subconsciousness part is suggested to form new behavior patterns and the produced state is fixed with the third kinesthetic conditional stimulus. Then the subconsciousness part is suggested to form new behavior patterns in retaining the second and the third conditional stimuli and to prove the selected behavior patterns by imagining them in the nearest future. The subconsciousness part examination being completed, responsibility is suggested to be taken by the patient for applying the patterns in future in situations causing him in the past to consume alcohol. Time required for proving the patterns under real life conditions is set and the patient is brought out of the trance state. EFFECT: enhanced effectiveness of treatment course. 3 cl

Description

 The method relates to medicine, in particular to narcology and psychotherapy, and can be used in the treatment of alcoholism. Alcoholism is a plurocausal disease, in the origin of which psychological factors take part, and one of the central links in the pathogenesis is mental dependence on alcohol (attraction).

 There is a method of treating alcoholism, which consists in removing the patient from the state of abstinence, conducting rational psychotherapy with the development of psychological settings for treatment and complete abstinence from the use of psychoactive drugs and fixation of the established setting with the help of electric shock on the emotiogenic zones of the brain with parameters that cause the development of unilateral convulsive seizure (US Pat. RF N 2055602, M. class. A 61 M 21/00, A 61 N 1/32 dated 03/08/93 "Method for the treatment of drug addiction and alcoholism", publ. BI N 7, 03/10/96).

The disadvantages of this method are:
low efficiency
ignoring the individual characteristics of the patient, his behavior, abilities and beliefs,
the presence of pain and traumatic factors.

 There is also known a method of treating alcoholism, including rational psychotherapy, in which, using motivated suggestions, form an attitude for sober life and create iatrogenism for drinking alcohol, form an “alcohol code”, irrigating the pharynx and pharyngeal space with a drug and associating the resulting sensation with instilling fear of the use of alcohol (US Pat. RF N 2057549, M.cl. A 61 M 21/00, A 61 K 35/64 from 12/26/91, publ. BI N 10 from 04/10/96).

The disadvantages of this method are:
the formation of iatrogenic obsessive-phobic neurosis,
quenching of conditioned reflex "alcohol code" when eating, non-alcoholic drinks,
orientation exclusively to abstinence from alcohol.

The closest is the way in which the conversation with the patient is recorded on a color film, and standard questions are asked to the patient first in a sober state, and then in a state of intoxication. The resulting films are then analyzed in parallel when the patient is sober - thus, visual and auditory stimuli act as conditioned reflex stimuli // Modern methods of treating chronic alcoholism. (Review of data from domestic and foreign literature). Ed. prof. Morozova G.V. M., 1970, p. 78) The obvious disadvantages of this method are:
the need to use movie equipment,
the use of alcoholic beverages to create intoxication,
a relatively long period of inpatient treatment.

 The objective of the present invention is to increase the effectiveness of the treatment of alcoholism and increase the duration of remission.

 The task is achieved by the fact that after a psychotherapeutic conversation and clarification of the purpose of treatment, the patient is offered to awake to recall several events in his life associated with the desire to stop drinking, using visual, auditory and kinesthetic associations, record this condition at the time of the most complete access to to each of the recalled events with the help of the first conditional stimulus, performed in the form of touching a certain part of the body, then, after a pause, the patient They suggest associating to recall several events preceding alcohol intoxication, as well as alcoholic excesses themselves, and after changing the physiological parameters, the state that has arisen is fixed with the help of a second conditional stimulus, touching a different part of the body, then non-directive induction of trance is carried out, an unambiguous system of non-verbal communication with the patient's subconscious is created using unconscious yes and no messages, the next step is to unconsciously analyze all the events associated with the use of a alcohol, to identify the goal of the patient's alcoholic behavior, the condition has been reinforced by a second conditional stimulus; further, through the simultaneous use of two conditional stimuli, the two states are combined. After the integration is completed, combining suggestion and explanation and using the developed system of non-verbal communication, they enter into communication with the patient’s subconscious mind, offering to develop at least three alternative alcoholic behaviors that meet both the criteria for alcohol and the criteria for acceptability for the patient’s consciousness. After this, the parts of the subconscious responsible for alcoholic behavior are offered to test these methods by presenting them in the possible future; then this part of the subconscious mind is offered the opportunity to assume responsibility for the automatic implementation of these methods in the future - in those situations where the patient previously used alcohol. After removal from a trance, control sessions are prescribed after 3, 6 and 12 months; during control sessions, the achieved result is evaluated, as well as new types of systematic behavior that have arisen in place of alcohol are identified. The treatment is carried out for 3-5 sessions, and in the case of orientation towards a complete refusal to use alcohol, the psychotherapeutic conversation and the therapy itself is carried out in 1 session, then 2-3 control sessions are followed, and in the case of orientation towards moderate drinking, the psychotherapeutic conversation is carried out during 1st session, therapeutic intervention - for 1 - 2 sessions and appoint 1 - 2 control sessions.

The novelty of the method:
1. Fixation of conditions associated with the desire to stop drinking alcohol, as well as conditions associated with drinking alcohol using tactile conditional stimuli, allows you to access subconscious motivational and behavioral stereotypes that correspond to sober and “drunk” states and behaviors.

 2. The combination (integration) of two states - “sober” and “alcoholic” - after the formation of a trance ensures the reunion of the patient's subconscious resources, including creative resources, which is necessary to create new, alternative to alcoholic, behaviors.

 3. Subconscious development of new, alternative to alcoholic, ways of behavior creates the possibility of automatic, subconscious formation of new, more acceptable for consciousness, habitual, systematic types of behavior that are most suitable for a given individual, thereby avoiding resistance to these new methods.

 4. The creation of a certain number of new methods (at least three) provides a real opportunity for choice - since one method means no choice, and two create a dilemma.

 5. The number of treatment sessions varies, since when focusing on moderate consumption of alcohol there is a need for a more complete understanding of the essence of the treatment method, and therefore an additional session is required to clarify, in contrast to the case of orientation to a complete refusal to drink.

The essence of the method is as follows:
When a patient addresses with complaints of loss of control over the use of alcohol, he is treated, which consists of several stages:
The initial psychotherapeutic conversation, during which the establishment of confidential contact with the patient is established at the conscious and unconscious levels, which is carried out using questions aimed at specifying the history of the disease, as well as to clarify the purpose of treatment (in the patient’s wording) - options are possible at this stage :
orientation to the complete abandonment of alcohol consumption,
orientation to socially acceptable (moderate alcohol consumption).

 a) In the case of orientation to a complete refusal of alcohol consumption, the characteristics of the desired state are clarified - for how long the patient wants to abandon alcohol consumption; by what signs in his behavior he will understand that he has achieved a result (what are the criteria for the result); what, in the patient’s opinion, are the main motives for drinking alcohol; what will he replace alcoholic behavior with (what other behavior that meets the basic criteria of alcoholic and highly motivating).

b) In the case of orientation to moderate alcohol consumption, a conversation is held introducing the patient to the principles of treatment:
the idea of dissociation between a “sober” and a “drunk” state is given; differences in these states in many respects - including psychological ones - in behavior, mood, abilities, values, and self-esteem; physiological — respiratory rate, pulse rate, blood pressure, muscle tone, vascular tone, etc. In addition, the patient uses the phrase “part of the subconscious mind” or “part of the brain” - a term meaning a combination of psychological and physiological stereotypes associated with these (“drunk” and “sober”) states;
an idea is given of the difference between behavior and its purpose and of the unconditionally positive character of the goal of any, including “drunk” - behavior; and also about the possibilities of choosing other ways to achieve the same goal; the patient’s problem is reformulated so that he has so far had only one choice to achieve this goal - drinking alcohol;
the purpose of alcoholic behavior is clarified (“What do you gain for yourself that is important through drinking?” or “Why (why) do you drink?”), focuses on the positive nature of the goal and the negative assessment of the current alcoholic behavior;
it turns out what kind of behavior possible for a given person that meets the important criteria of alcohol (accessibility, reliability, effectiveness, control of emotions) takes into account other important criteria (health, well-being of the family, respect for significant people, high self-esteem, etc.);
the result of treatment is formulated as a combination of the capabilities and abilities available in these (“drunk” and “sober”) states.

 Actually therapy. The patient is located in a chair, he is offered to take a comfortable position, they declare the start of the treatment itself. After that, the patient is explained that there are two ways to recall past experiences - associated (as if the event is happening to him now) and dissociated - watching from the side. The explanation is supported by examples from available experience. Then the patient is offered in an awake (ordinary, everyday) state to recall several (for example, five) events from his life, when he had a strong desire to quit alcohol, while helping the patient to recall these conditions as fully and as possible, using associations of vision, hearing, sensations. At the time of the most complete access to each of the events, a condition is fixed using a conditional stimulus (touching a certain part of the patient’s body) - this is a conditional stimulus 1.

 After a pause, which lasts 3-5 minutes, the patient is asked to recall, also associated, several events preceding the alcoholic excesses, as well as the alcoholic excesses themselves. In the course of this patient, they are asked in detail about the characteristics of the state that has arisen, which is an "analogue of intoxication" - questions are used to determine how the mood, perception, (visual, auditory, tactile, interoceptive) have changed, and what is the order (sequence) of these changes. After a noticeable change in physiological parameters - the tone of the muscles of the face and body, respiratory rate, skin color, pupil size, intonation and tempo qualities of speech - the condition is recorded by touching another part of the body - conditional stimulus 2.

 The next step is the non-directive induction of hypnotic trance. To do this, ask the patient to give his left hand to conduct a "test for attention and concentration." The patient is asked to determine how accurately the doctor will call the fingers of the patient’s left hand, while touching them. The patient is also offered to consider the mistakes that the doctor will make intentionally. Then the "test" is complicated - the patient is offered to count errors with his eyes closed. As soon as the patient closes his eyes, they deliberately begin to make more errors, continuing to name the fingers they touch, and also inform the patient that after a while he will get tired of counting errors, and this will mean that you can just relax, getting pleasant feelings. As a result, after some time, levitation of the arm occurs, which indicates a sufficient depth of the hypnotic trance that has arisen.

The next step, to improve the suggestibility of the patient is introduced (or reused) the wording "part of the subconscious (or" part of the brain "), which is responsible for the problem, and the patient is asked to choose the" names "or" names "for these" parts of the subconscious, and if possible - and imagine them in the form of images that have color, size, localization, etc. In the future, referring directly to the "part of the brain (subconscious) that is responsible for drunk (or sober) behavior" and, using conditional stimuli 1 and 2, find out useful intentions (goals), after which a subconscious choice is made of new - possible, affordable and preferable for the entire patient's personality methods of solving the problem. This is carried out in several stages:
the patient is offered to form a system of “non-verbal communication” with the “part of the subconscious responsible for drunken behavior” using ideomotor (sincere subconscious) movements - “yes” and “no” signals;
through the simultaneous use of conditioned stimuli 1 and 2 for 3-4 minutes, two states are integrated. During this, external physiological signs of both conditions are observed simultaneously;
further, referring to the “part of the subconscious responsible for drunken behavior”, and using the system of non-verbal communication, combining suggestion and explanation, the patient realizes that each (including “drunk”) behavior has a positive intention, which must be taken into account when choosing a new behavior that will subsequently replace alcoholic;
"parts of the subconscious responsible for alcohol behavior", offer the opportunity to choose other ways to achieve the same intention (goal);
after the consent of the “part of the subconscious” to have these new ways, access to the “creative resources of the subconscious” is provided for the formation of new behaviors that correspond to the clarified intention, moreover, this access is monitored by physiological manifestations and reinforced by a conditional stimulus 3;
"the part of the subconscious responsible for drunken behavior", using all the resources of the subconscious, suggests choosing new behaviors (instead of alcohol) that meet the criteria for alcohol (accessibility, predictability, simplicity, etc.), as well as all additional criteria that are important for patient consciousness. At the same time, they help the patient by holding conditional stimuli 2 and 3;
"the parts of the subconscious responsible for alcoholic behavior" offer to mentally verify the selected methods, presenting them in the possible future. As soon as the selected methods (at least three) pass this test, they offer the "parts of the subconscious" to take responsibility for the automatic implementation of these "new ways of behavior chosen by her" in the patient’s future life - as systematically and in the same situations in which she previously used alcoholic behavior. If the methods are rejected, then the previous step is repeated again until at least three new methods are selected, which they will learn about with the "yes"signal;
upon receipt of the “yes” signal, the time period necessary for “testing in real conditions” new methods of behavior is established, and this period is the period of time before the control session;
after that, the patient returns to awake state.

 Upon removal of the patient from the trance, he is assigned a control session.

Control session. During the control sessions, the patient is awake, find out:
whether he achieved the desired result (a complete rejection of alcohol or moderate consumption);
what and how has changed in connection with this in the state of his health, in his immediate environment, work, etc.

 This scheme is designed for use within 3-5 sessions.

 Example 1. Patient K., 38, a civil engineer, complained of loss of control over the amount of alcohol consumed. Over the past 2 years, he drank alcohol with a frequency of 2 times a week, in an amount of 250 to 400 ml in vodka equivalent. Six months ago, there was a pronounced hangover syndrome, individual amnesia and palimpsest. A month ago he was forced to quit his job due to alcohol abuse and violations of labor discipline (absenteeism). To date, I have not applied for drug treatment.

 When questioning intellectual disorders, it does not reveal, it is oriented, the consciousness is clear, no productive symptoms have been identified. Concomitant pathology from the central nervous system, injuries, no operations.

 Upon treatment, the patient expressed a desire to acquire the ability to drink alcohol moderately.

 In a conversation with the patient, he was given the idea of the dissociation that exists in him of two states of consciousness - a sober state and a state of intoxication, with which the patient readily agreed. The doctor clarified that this dissociation (difference) concerns both behavior and self-esteem, skills, beliefs, self-reliance; as well as physiological functions - the rate of thought and speech, pulse, blood pressure, respiratory rate.

 After that, the doctor informed the patient that any behavior, including alcohol, has a purpose (intention) that is obviously useful for the person, and that at present the patient has only one way to achieve it - alcohol behavior. The doctor emphasized that in the presence of dissociation, alcohol intake can also serve to gain access to some important types of behavior, skills, and mood. The patient agreed that only in a state of intoxication he can "relax", "feel self-respect", "really laugh", "distract from problems", "calm down and fall asleep."

 The next step, the patient was asked to consciously find a way that could provide these valuable opportunities with the same reliability, affordability and predictability. After a little deliberation, the patient stated that he could not imagine such a method. The doctor agreed with this statement and suggested that only if the capabilities (resources) of the two conditions are combined (the usual state of sobriety and the state of intoxication) is it possible to find a new way that will meet all of the above criteria (availability, reliability, predictability), and also socially acceptable and healthy.

 After this, the patient was asked to take a more comfortable position in the chair, and the doctor announced the start of therapeutic intervention.

 To begin with, the doctor talked about two possible ways to recall past experiences - the involved and non-involved, explaining in detail that the involved method involves recalling an event, as if the patient was in time and place where the event occurs, and would recall what he saw, heard and felt everything as then. Then the doctor suggested recalling in the above way 5 events from the previous experience, when the patient had a really strong desire to give up alcohol, and the patient should have made it clear to the doctor that access to the memory was received by saying yes. Each of these conditions, observed by the doctor on changes in non-verbal signals (the patient stereotyped began to breathe more often, looked up, straightened up, raised his shoulders), was supported by a conditional tactile stimulus, for which the doctor touched the patient’s right knee in the same way.

After a three-minute pause, the doctor asked the patient to recall, using vision, hearing and sensations, 5 events preceding the alcoholic excesses, as well as the alcoholic excesses themselves, simultaneously commenting on their own behavior when drinking alcohol, as well as the sequence of changes in internal sensations, perceptions and moods. The patient began to perform the task, and the doctor began to note changes in his non-verbal behavior, namely:
the patient looked down stereotypically, on the side, facial hyperemia began to increase, speech began to slow down, voice volume increased, the voice became lower and smoother, gestures also became smoother, there was also a decrease and deepening of breathing. The moments of the most pronounced physiological changes were fixed using the second conditional stimulus - the doctor touched the patient’s left knee.

 The next step, the doctor went on to form a trance state, for which the patient was offered a “test for attention” - the doctor asked the patient to give his left hand, the fingers of which the doctor would touch, while calling the fingers out loud; the doctor suggested that the patient consider errors to himself that the doctor would intentionally make. After 6 minutes from the start of the procedure, the patient closed his eyes, and after another 2 minutes a cataleptic numbness developed in the patient’s left hand. This was accompanied by other signs of a developed trance state. Following this, the doctor turned “directly to the patient’s subconscious”, proposing to form a subconscious non-verbal communication system using ideomotor movements. Such a system was developed, and the finger ideomotor signal (movement of the index finger) of the right hand meant "yes", and a similar movement of the finger of the left hand meant "no." With the help of the created communication system, the “subconscious” was asked to analyze all cases of alcohol consumption in order to detect the real intent behind alcohol behavior. After the discovery of such an intention (goal), about which the body gave the corresponding “yes” signal, the doctor turned on the second conditional stimulus (touched the left knee). Immediately after this, the doctor simultaneously touching both knees connected both conditional stimuli, creating the opportunity for combining the resources of both states. Over the next 3 minutes, signs of association were observed: involuntary movements of the head and body, changes in the frequency and depth of breathing, alternating redness and blanching of the skin. After the formation of the combined state (averaged over physiological parameters), the doctor brought the patient out of a trance state with the suggestion to him of the procedural instructions that "the union will continue for the next day." Immediately upon awakening, the patient noted that at the time of combining conditional stimuli, he remembered "a series of memories associated with different moments of life that quickly flashed before his inner gaze." The next meeting was scheduled after 3 days.

 In the second session, the patient during questioning noted "unusual pleasant drowsiness" in the evening of each of the days preceding the 2nd session.

 After questioning, the patient using the procedure described above was immersed in a trance state, the system of non-verbal communication with the “subconscious” was resumed, after which the doctor suggested that the “subconscious” connect this signaling system to “a certain part of the subconscious responsible for alcoholic behavior,” which was done . Then, "the part of the subconscious responsible for alcoholic behavior", it was proposed to realize their goal, which is certainly useful for the body. After completing this step, the “subconscious” the doctor suggested finding “access to creative resources”, and the caused condition was fixed using the third tactile stimulus (touching the left hand). Then, “the part of the subconscious responsible for alcoholic behavior,” it was suggested that creative opportunities be used to find new ways to achieve its goal. At the same time, the doctor included two conditional stimuli - 2 and 3.

 After this “part responsible for alcoholic behavior,” the doctor suggested choosing at least three methods, three new behaviors to achieve the same goal, marking each of the unconsciously selected methods with a “yes” signal. After receiving three “yes” signals from the “part responsible for alcoholic behavior”, it was proposed to take responsibility for the application of the chosen methods in real life over the next three weeks.

 Following this, the patient was taken out of trance and released home with the instruction "to note any interesting changes in the condition."

 Three weeks later, a third session was conducted, during which it turned out that the patient regained conscious control over the use of alcohol, which manifested itself in the fact that he began to feel a sense of indifference at the sight of alcohol, he could "drink a glass of wine and feel changes in condition, but I don’t want to continue "; easily refrains from drinking alcohol even “in companies” - refers to urgent work or the need to drive a car. According to the patient, "alcohol receded into the background, even thoughts did not arise in the last week." At the same time, he notes the emergence of interest in work (got a job), family relations and self-esteem have improved. Also notes improved sleep and appetite.

 After 6 months, during the control session, he notes the stability of the results, as well as his recent "habit of listening to relaxing music", for which the patient even acquired a music center. With pleasure he talks about the fact that "now he can easily relax without music." In winter, for the first time in several years, he began to spend the weekend with his family outside the city.

 The treatment results are satisfied.

 Example 2. Patient G., 40 years old, a slayer of the Kapitalnaya mine, complained of excessive drinking and related “family troubles”. According to the patient, the attraction to alcohol became a problem for him over the past 5 years, when “craving” appeared, alcohol excesses became more frequent - in the last year he systematically consumes alcohol with a frequency of up to 5 times a week, and at the same time he consumed up to 400 ml in vodka equivalent; severe hangover syndrome is observed. When questioned, palimpsests were identified. Concomitant pathology from the central nervous system and productive symptoms were not detected. I did not apply for narcological help.

 The patient expressed a desire to completely abandon the use of alcohol, but stated that "he does not believe in coding, but he wants to cope with it."

 The doctor agreed with the patient’s desire to “quit alcohol on their own” and suggested using a new treatment method that is fundamentally different from “coding”. After obtaining the consent of the patient, the doctor carefully asked him what exactly this desired condition would be: the period for which the patient wished to give up drinking alcohol was determined (3 years); characteristics of the patient’s behavior, which will indicate the receipt of the result (the patient replied that for him it would be the appearance of aversion to alcohol); the main motives for drinking alcohol (the patient replied that he "wanted to avenge his wife's grievances"); to the question of what kind of behavior the patient expects to replace with drinking, after a short thought he answered that he "does not represent such behavior."

 After a preliminary interview, the patient was announced that the doctor would now proceed directly to therapy. The patient was invited to sit comfortably in a chair and listen carefully. After that, the doctor explained to the patient the differences between the involved and uninvolved ways of recalling the events of a past life and offered to recall with involvement, using visual, auditory, olfactory and tactile memories, at least three events associated with a strong desire to quit alcohol. As the patient recalled these events, the doctor helped him through suggestive questions (“When and where did this happen?”, “What surrounded you?”, Etc.). The patient was also asked to let the doctor know when access to the memory would be obtained by nodding his head. In the course of this, the doctor observed changes in the patient's non-verbal behavior, noting repeated eye movements - up and to the left, neck muscle tension, lowering of the corners of the mouth, etc. As a rule, the moment of the most pronounced non-verbal manifestations was ahead of the conscious signal - nodding his head - for 15-30 seconds. Conditional stimulus 1 (a stereotypical touch on the patient's right knee) reinforced precisely the peak of non-verbal manifestations that accompany each memory. Then, after a three-minute pause, the patient was asked to recall involved at least three events that preceded the use of alcohol, and the craving was very pronounced; as well as alcoholic excesses themselves, using visual, auditory, olfactory, taste memories. During the recall, the doctor helped the patient with focused clarifying questions (“Where and when did this happen?”, “What do you hear and see?”, “How do you feel the urge to drink (craving)?”, Etc.), in response to which the patient described in detail the changes occurring with him. In this case, non-verbal manifestations different from the above were observed, namely, the patient's breathing was somewhat slowed down. The voice became louder, the articulation became less clear, the skin of the face turned red, the pupils dilated. At the time of the most pronounced non-verbal manifestations that accompanied access to each of the memories, the doctor reinforced the condition with a conditional stimulus 2 (touching the patient’s left knee).

 Next, the doctor proceeded to the formation of a hypnotic trance state, using the method described in Example 1. After that, combining verbal suggestions with explanation, the doctor established a non-verbal system of communication with the patient’s “subconscious” using “yes” and “no” signals, which in this unconscious movements of the head served as a case (a slight forward inclination is “yes”, small in amplitude of the head rotation from side to side is “no”).

 At the next step, the doctor suggested that the "subconscious" analyze the entire period of the patient's problematic drunkenness in order to highlight the intent (goal) of alcoholic behavior. After discovering such a goal, which the "subconscious" reported with a "yes" signal, the doctor turned on the conditioned stimulus 2, creating a subconscious connection between the state similar to the state of intoxication and his real intention. Immediately after this, the doctor connected the conditioned stimuli 1 and 2, simultaneously touching both knees, and held these stimuli for about 2-3 minutes. At this time, signs of a unification of both conditions were observed: alternation of blanching and redness of the skin, rapid alternation of breaths of various depths, pronounced involuntary movements of the head and body. Then, the “subconscious” was asked to attach a system of non-verbal communication to the “part of the subconscious that was directly responsible for alcohol behavior,” and then give a “yes” signal. After receiving this signal, the doctor expressed the wish that the "part responsible for alcoholic behavior" recognize its positive and important goal. The next step, this part was proposed to “find access to the imagination and creative abilities of the individual” and confirm this contact with a “yes” signal. At the same time, the doctor helped the patient using a metaphorical language - offering to "turn to inner wisdom", "internal doctor", "the ability of each person to do something in his own way," etc. When access was obtained, which confirmed the “yes” signal, as well as a pronounced change in non-verbal behavior — the patient’s face became much more symmetrical, a symmetrical smile appeared, breathing became smoother and deeper, the muscles of the neck and shoulders relaxed — the doctor reinforced this condition with the help of a conditional stimulus 3 (touching the right hand). After that, the “part responsible for alcoholic behavior”, it was proposed to choose at least three new ways to achieve their goal - more useful, more socially acceptable than the old one. They should have been as simple, affordable and reliable as the former. At the same time, it was proposed that each perfect choice be accompanied by a “yes” signal, to which this signal almost immediately followed. The subconscious choice of new behaviors, instead of alcohol, continued for the next 15 minutes. After receiving the third “yes” signal, which testified to the presence of 3 new ways of behavior, the same “part of the subconscious”, the doctor suggested taking responsibility for using these methods in real life over the next three weeks. Having received the answer “yes”, the doctor returned the patient to normal wakefulness, making the next appointment in three weeks.

 During the second - control - session, the patient noted that during this entire period he had never used alcohol, "didn’t even draw"; disgusted with alcohol, "but not nausea"; he began to calmly respond to the reproaches of family members - "I even laugh sometimes, I did not expect this."

 After 6 months, during the second control session, the patient reported that he was still indifferent to alcohol, "finally he took up the apiary, and before that all his hands did not reach." According to his wife, “he began to notice where to put a hand on the farm,” he spends his free time in the apiary.

 The patient is satisfied with the results of the treatment.

Claims (3)

 1. A method of treating alcoholism, including rational psychotherapy with the formation of a motivated suggestion of a sober attitude using comparisons of a drunk and sober state, characterized in that after a psychotherapeutic conversation and clarification of the purpose of treatment, the patient is asked to recall several events in his life in an awake state, associated with the desire to stop drinking, using associations of vision, hearing, proprio- and interoceptive sensations, smell and taste, record this condition in The moment of the most complete access to each of the recalled events with the help of the first kinesthetic conditional stimulus, performed in the form of a touch on a certain part of the body, then after a pause the patient is offered to associate to recall several events preceding alcohol intoxication, as well as alcohol excesses that occurred after changing physiological parameters the condition is fixed using the second kinesthetic conditional stimulus, after which non-directive induction of trance is carried out, formulated with the system of non-verbal communication using ideomotor movements and to improve the suggestibility of the patient introduces the wording "part of the subconscious", which is responsible for the problem, the patient is asked to choose the "name" or "name" of this part and present it in the form of an image that has color, size, localization; then, referring directly to this "part of the subconscious," they propose to analyze all events related to alcohol consumption, to identify the goal of the patient's alcohol behavior, the resulting condition is reinforced by a second conditional stimulus, then through the simultaneous use of the first and second conditional stimuli, the two states are combined, after the integration is completed, combining suggestion and explanation, the patient achieves awareness that behind each behavior, including drunk, there is a positive measurement, then they suggest “parts of the subconscious” to form new behaviors that correspond to the revealed intentions, and the condition is fixed with the help of a third kinesthetic conditional stimulus, after which they offer “parts of the subconscious” to choose new ways of behavior instead of alcohol that correspond to new intentions, while holding at the same time, conditional stimuli 2 and 3, then offer to check the selected methods by presenting them in the possible future, after completing the verification of the "part of the subconscious" They propose to take responsibility for the implementation of these methods in the future in situations where the patient previously drank alcohol, after which they set the time period necessary to test these methods in real conditions, and remove the patient from a trance state.  2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that after removal from the trance, control sessions are prescribed after 3, 6 and 12 months, in which the achievement of the treatment result is assessed, and new types of systematic behavior that occur instead of alcohol are detected.  3. The method according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the treatment is carried out for 3 to 5 sessions, and in the case of orientation to a complete refusal to use alcohol, the psychotherapeutic conversation and the actual therapy is carried out for 1 session, then 2 to 3 control sessions follow , and in the case of orientation to moderate alcohol consumption, a psychotherapeutic conversation is carried out during the 1st session, therapeutic intervention - for 1 - 2 sessions and 1 - 2 control sessions are prescribed.