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Family functioning impacts individuals with a substance use disorder (SUD) and relates to treatment recovery outcomes. A family system and each family member mutually influence one another. Research has also shown alterations in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) functioning of family members who have a loved one with a SUD. This study examined associations between family functioning and PFC activation of such family members using functional near-infrared spectroscopy to measure cerebral blood flow in response to SUD loved-one images. A relationship was found between family functioning and left superior frontal sulcus activation. This PFC region is associated with social responding and self-referential processing. These findings support the importance of family member involvement in recovery processes, and highlight family functioning as an important factor connected with individual functioning and well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explored a model of codependent attitude and behavior as moderators of the relationship between AOD problems in the family of origin (AODF) and offspring self-reports of psychological distress in a counterbalanced multiple-treatment experiment with a small heterogeneous sample of adult males and females. Three-directional hypotheses suggested by the literature were tested. Codependent attitude and behavior buffered Somatization, as predicted by the model, but exacerbated Anxiety, Hostility, and Paranoid-Ideation. Our findings suggest that codependent attitude and behavior may be adaptations that protect AODF offspring from somatic distress, not the broadband expressions of offspring neuroticism reported in the literature. Owing to the small size and self-selection of our volunteer sample, replications with larger samples are called for. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explored the relationship between the concept of codependency, a term originating in the field of addictions, and DSM-IV (APA, 1994) descriptions of dependent and borderline personality disorders. Seventy-five undergraduates (16 men and 59 women) were administered the Potter-Efron Codependency Scale (Potter-Efron & Potter-Efron, 1989), the borderline and the dependent scales of the MCMI-II (Milton, 1987), and the Dysfunctional Attitude Scale (DAS, Weissman, 1979). Pearson Product Moment correlations were computed and revealed a significant positive correlation between codependent and borderline traits and a significant but weaker correlation between codependent and dependent traits. Codependent and borderline personality traits were also similarly correlated on specific cognitive schema assessed by the DAS. These findings are one of only a few first empirical tests of the relationship between borderline personality disorder, dependent personality disorder and codependency, possibly indicating that codependency may be a combination of disorders already extant in the DSM-IV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined how parental drinking and family dysfunction are associated with sibling family role differences. Twenty- nine sibling pairs of college freshmen and their younger siblings participated. Differences on family roles of hero and lost child were significantly related to parental drinking and family dysfunction. Differences in codependency were significantly related to family dysfunction. Implications for dealing with children's family roles in families undergoing addictions treatment were discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A group treatment model was developed to assist individuals address intrapersonal and relational issues associated with codependence. The model consisted of twelve group sessions utilizing a set curriculum developed by the authors. Results indicated that patient perception of locus of control and codependency improved significantly by the end of treatment and that these gains continued to improve at a six-month follow up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The validity and reliability of the Codependent Questionnaire (CdQ), a new measure of codependence, was examined. In Study 1, using 48 undergraduate students, the CdQ total score displayed high levels of internal consistency (alpha = .86) and test-retest reliability (r = .80). In Study 2, the CdQ was administered to forty-two outpatient psychotherapy clients. Client CdQ scores correlated .53 with therapists' ratings of their clients' codependence, demonstrating criterion related validity. Convergent and discriminant validity was examined by correlating CdQ scores with the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory (MCMI). The CdQ correlated positively with clinical disorders sharing common characteristics with codependence (borderline, dysthymia, anxiety, passive-aggressive) and had a non-significant or negative correlation with disorders reflecting characteristics incompatible with codependent behaviors (anti-social, narcissistic). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article examines the use of group counseling with self-identified codependent individuals. Codependence develops as the result of long-term exposure to a highly stressful family environment. The environment may be the present living and/or working situation, but is more commonly a dysfunctional family of origin which manifested physical, sexual, or emotional abuse, neglect, or excessive trauma. Codependence is thought to create difficulty with an individual's identity, intimacy and physical health and most often is evidenced by avoidant, self-defeating, and dependent behavior. Traditional group counseling has been offered as one mode of care for codependent individuals. Traditional group counseling has the capacity to provide symptomatic relief and promote significant personality change. The major therapeutic factors include: interpersonal learning, group bonding, initative behavior, existential factors, universality, catharsis, development of socialization techniques and, most importantly, the corrective recapitulation of the family of origin.

The purpose of this study was to determine the degree to which factors associated with participation in codependency support groups are similar to factors that influence participation in other types of self-help or support groups. Pile-up of stressors and the denial of a problem were found to be the strongest predictors of group attendance. Other factors found to be related to the decision to seek help in support groups were encouragement, availability, and recognition of addictions in oneself or in family members. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on addictions treatment field that has come under increased attack for basing much of its intervention on research and theory drawn from white male experiences with addiction. Addiction has been reconceptualized as a disordered power arrangement embedded in gender; the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous have been rewritten; terms such as codependency have been challenged and redefined. Women continue to get treated as a special population, which is studied in terms of its deviance from the "norm" in the addictions literature. In terms of the drug of choice, it was found that alcohol is still the most commonly used drug. Women over 30 tend to use alcohol primarily and to use alone and daily. Physical health care tends to be a greater concern for women than for men. It also tends to be a greater concern for black women than white women. Specifically, women in treatment report more anxiety, depression, toxic psychosis, post traumatic stress disorder, suicide attempts and neurological disorders.

Dr. Cermak, in his book "Diagnosing and Treating Codependence" (1986), has argued for the inclusion of codependency as a separate personality disorder worthy of inclusion in the diagnostic and statistical manual. He states that codependence is a recognizable, differentially diagnosed-personality disorder typically found within most chemically dependent effected families. This paper is an attempt to examine his proposed diagnostic criteria from a clinical and prior empirical research standpoint. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]