Psychological Meaning of Disulfiram (Antabuse) Therapy

Abstract

Disulfiram (tetraethylthiuramdisulfide) was accidentally discovered to combine with ethyl alcohol to produce a noxious effect by Jacobsen and Hald, in Denmark, in 1947. After its therapeutic introduction by Martensen-Larsen in 1948, this chemical compound, with the market name of Antabuse, has been used in the treatment of patients suffering from chronic alcoholism in unknown numbers of thousands. As with any new treatment method, an overly enthusiastic reception occurred, with successes reported in 60% to 80% of the patients so treated and followed for six months to a year. However, the enthusiasm has diminished, until now the recovery rates are about the same as those reported for other therapeutic modalities. Unfortunately, rather than helping those who did not benefit from other techniques, disulfiram works best with those patients who generally do better with any type of treatment.¹ Disturbing were the increasing number of reports of psychosis,