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Do Alcoholics Anonymous Groups Really Work? Factors of Adherence in a Brazilian Sample of Hospitalized Alcohol Dependents
Author(s) -
Terra Mauro Barbosa,
Tannhauser Barros Helena Maria,
Stein Airton Tetelbom,
Figueira Ivan,
Palermo Luiz Henrique,
Athayde Luciana Dias,
De Souza Gonçalves Marcelo,
Da Silveira Dartiu Xavier
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
the american journal on addictions
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.997
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1521-0391
pISSN - 1055-0496
DOI - 10.1080/10550490701756393
Subject(s) - alcoholics anonymous , medicine , intervention (counseling) , psychological intervention , psychiatry , credibility , clinical psychology , brief intervention , family medicine , cohort , political science , law
This study was designed to determine factors affecting adherence to Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) groups. This cohort involved 300 alcoholics committed to three hospitals in Porto Alegre, Brazil. They were interviewed again in their homes after six months. The SCID‐I and a questionnaire focusing on patient relationship with AA groups were used. The responses obtained through the questionnaire were independently evaluated by two researchers. AA adherence was below 20%. The main factors reported by patients as reasons for non‐adherence to AA were relapse, lack of identification with the method, lack of need, and lack of credibility. The factors reported by patients as reasons for adherence were identification with the method and a way to avoid relapse. Although AA is considered an effective intervention for alcoholism, its adherence rate was excessively low. The identification of these nonadherence factors could help health professionals in referring certain alcoholic patients to therapeutic interventions other than AA.