title: How AA works and why it's important for clinicians to understand.
abstract: Alcoholism is associated with tremendous suffering, psychological denial, and physical and emotional debilitation. Much of the suffering that plagues alcoholics is rooted in core problems with self-regulation involving self-governance, feeling life (affects), and self-care. Alcoholics Anonymous is effective because it is a sophisticated group psychology that effectively accesses, corrects, or repairs these core psychological vulnerabilities. The traditions of storytelling, honesty, openness, and willingness to examine ("take inventory") character defects allow people to express themselves who otherwise do not feel or speak and help those who otherwise are deceitful (to self and others) and would deny vulnerability and limitation to openly admit to it.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge Hospital, MA 02139.
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Khantzian
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Mack
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000523:psychology; D000436:Alcoholics Anonymous; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010348:Patient Care Team; D010815:Physician Impairment; D012648:Self Care / Q000523:psychology