title: Spiritual awakening predicts improved drinking outcomes in a Polish treatment sample.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study examined concurrent and longitudinal associations between two dimensions of affiliation in Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)-attendance and spiritual awakening-and drinking outcomes among adult patients who were in treatment for alcohol dependence in Warsaw, Poland. In a study conducted at four addiction treatment centers, male and female patients (n = 118) with a DSM-IV diagnosis of alcohol dependence were assessed at baseline (Time 1 or T1), 1 month (T2), and 6-12 months postbaseline (T3) for AA meeting attendance, various aspects of AA affiliation, and alcohol use. Alcoholics Anonymous meeting attendance and alcohol consumption were measured using the Timeline Followback interview. Self-report of having had a spiritual awakening was measured using a modified version of the Alcoholics Anonymous Involvement Scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no cross-sectional or longitudinal associations between AA meeting attendance and improved drinking outcomes. In contrast, self-report of a spiritual awakening between T2 and T3 was significantly associated with abstinence (OR = 2.4, p < .05) and the absence of any heavy drinking (OR = 3.0, p < .05) at T3, even when demographic and clinical characteristics were statistically controlled.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Self-reports of spiritual awakening predicted improved drinking outcomes in a Polish treatment sample.
authors: Stephen Strobbe, PhD, RN, NP, PMHCNS-BC, CARN-AP, University of Michigan School of Nursing, University of Michigan Department of Psychiatry, Ann Arbor. James A. Cranford, PhD, and Kirk J. Brower, MD, University of Michigan Addiction Research Center, Ann Arbor. Marcin Wojnar, MD, PhD, Medical University of Warsaw, Poland.
authors: Stephen
authors: S
authors: Strobbe
authors: James A
authors: JA
authors: Cranford
authors: Marcin
authors: M
authors: Wojnar
authors: Kirk J
authors: KJ
authors: Brower
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000639:trends; D000436:Alcoholics Anonymous; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D016015:Logistic Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D057566:Self Report; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D029181:Spirituality; D016320:Substance Abuse Treatment Centers; D013695:Temperance / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016896:Treatment Outcome