Do alcoholics anonymous groups really work? Factors of adherence in a Brazilian sample of hospitalized alcohol dependents.
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.
Terra
Mauro Barbosa
MB
Department of Psychiatry and Forensic Medicine, Fundação Faculdade Federal de Ciências Médicas de Porto Alegre, Brazil. mabarte@portoweb.com.br
Barros
Helena Maria Tannhauser
HM
Stein
Airton Tetelbom
AT
Figueira
Ivan
I
Palermo
Luiz Henrique
LH
Athayde
Luciana Dias
LD
de Souza Gonçalves
Marcelo
M
da Silveira
Dartiu Xavier
DX
D000328:Adult; D000436:Alcoholics Anonymous; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome