TREATMENT Is Controlled Drinking an Acceptable Goal in the Treatment of Alcohol Dependence? A Survey of French Alcohol Specialists

547 French alcohol specialists. We searched factors associated with acceptance of CD, and factors that affected the specialists ’ selec-tion of treatment goal. Criteria for success used by specialists in clinical practice were compared with criteria expected to be used in clinical trials. Results: CD was accepted as a treatment goal by 48.6 % of alcohol specialists (n = 105, n = 216), and 61.9 % practiced CD for their own patients (n = 130, n = 210). Factors in selecting outcome goals were: patient’s choice, perceived self-efficacy, relapse history and severity of dependence. Age, profession and basis of specialists ’ opinion on CD were associated with acceptance of CD. Conclusion: Half of French alcohol specialists accept CD as a goal. Acceptance was associated with specialists ’ personal and professional characteristics. The criteria for success specialists use in their clinical practice differ from those they expect to be used in clinical trials