How Does AA Work?

This study is the first to investigate exactly how AA helps individuals recover by examining the independent effects of several mechanisms simultaneously.” Kelly is an associate professor in the Harvard Medical School Department of Psychiatry. Studies have documented the short- and long-term benefits of AA participation, only recently have researchers investigated how those benefits are conferred. A broad range of factors associated with AA participation have been identified as contributing to recovery including changes in social networks, maintaining motivation, confidence in the ability to cope with the demands of recovery, decreased depression symptoms, and increased spirituality — but no study as yet has been able to determine the relative importance of those mechanisms. To meet that goal, the current study analyzed data from more than 1,700 study participants who had been enrolled at nine U.S. centers as part of a federally funded trial known as Project MATCH that compared three alcohol treatment approaches. Almost 1,000 were recruited into the study directly from the community, and another 775 had received prior inpatient treatment, indicating a greater degree of alcohol dependence. Along with the treatment approaches being tested in Project MATCH — cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational enhancement therapy, and a 12-step therapy — participants were free to attend AA meetings. At follow-up sessions three, nine, and 15 months after completing the Project ...
Source: Recovery Is Sexy.com - Category: Addiction Authors: Tags: 12 Step Fellowships Alcoholics Anonymous Alcoholism Higher Power Recovery members stay sober participation in Alcoholics Anonymous successful alcoholism recovery Source Type: blogs
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