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A Prediction Error-driven Retrieval Procedure for Destabilizing and Rewriting Maladaptive Reward Memories in Hazardous Drinkers
Published on: January 5, 2018
Spiritual awakening predicts improved drinking outcomes in a Polish treatment sample
Stephen Strobbe1, James A Cranford, Marcin Wojnar
1Stephen 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.
Purpose:
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.
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