Traditional aversion therapy, which employed either chemical aversion  (Watson and Reyner, 1920) or electrical aversion (Maguire and Vallance,  1964) has now, since Cautela, been replaced by aversion in the  imagination, a technique which is known as covert sensitization  (Cautela, 1967).
Covert sensitization is a powerful and effective form of treatment  and it has been used successfully in the treatment of alcoholism,  compulsive gambling and 
juvenile delinquency.  This treatment approach can also be used in the treatment of cigarette  smokers, and there are favorable results here especially when being  compared to other techniques.
 Kraft & Kraft (2005) assessed the value of covert sensitization  in six case studies—a fingernail biter, a cannabis smoker, an obese  lady, a cigarette smoker, an individual with a chocolate addiction and  an alcoholic. The study showed that covert sensitization was a rapid and  cost-effective form of treatment. All the individuals in the study  eliminated their maladaptive behavior pattern, and this was maintained  at the follow-up.