Verified Document

Is AA The Best Treatment Of Alcoholism  Term Paper

McKellar, J., Stewart, E., & Humphreys, K. (April, 2003). Alcoholics Anonymous: Involvement and Positive Alcohol-Related Outcomes: Cause, Consequence, or Just a Correlate? A Prospective 2-Year Study of 2,319 Alcohol-Dependent Men. Journal of Consulting & Clinical Psychology; 71 (2): 302-308. McKellar, Stewart, and Humphreys study the causality between A.A. involvement and positive alcohol related outcomes in 2319 male subjects (p. 304). Their model included involvement after 1 year of sobriety in relation to a 2-year follow-up, examining the levels of alcohol related problems (p. 305). Their findings include that the participation in the A.A. program can have a positive effect of alcohol-related problems, independent from motivation factors or psychopathology (p. 306-308).

This source is important because the study was done in a scientific manner, with a control group and sound methodology (p. 303-305). The study involves analysis of previous works, using the same hypothesis (p. 302-303), and comes to the same conclusions (p. 306-308). In addition, the journal the study appears in is a reputable scientific journal within the psychology community.

Call Number: AN 9381582, EBSCO Host

Gossop M, Harris J, Best D, Man LH, Manning V, Marshall J, Strang J. (Sept/Oct., 2003). Is attendance at Alcoholics Anonymous meetings after inpatient treatment related to improved outcomes? A 6-month follow-up study. Alcohol and Alcoholism, 38 (5):421-6.

Gossop, et al., investigate the relationship between Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings prior to, during, and after leaving treatment, and changes in outcome following inpatient treatment for alcohol related issues (p. 421). The study assesses patients...

424). The results conclude that those patients who attend A.A. meetings following treatment are more likely to abstain more often than those who do not attend, or attend infrequently (p. 425-426). They also found that, even with A.A., only drinking behaviors were lessened, while other alcohol related issues persisted (p. 426).
The article is important for two main reasons. The first is that the researchers used sound methodology and a control sample to reduce casual effects (p. 424). The research also points out that even with A.A., only drinking behavior is reduced (p. 426). This lends to the idea that A.A., while a useful tool in treatment, is not a sole determinant of a positive outcome, but only a portion of that outcome. In addition, the Journal the article appears in is a reliable source of information.

Call [HIDDEN], PubMed

Morton, K. (May, 2002). Attending Step Meetings as a Course Requirement: A Preliminary Investigation. Teaching of Psychology; 29 (2): 125-129.

Morton examines how the 12-step program of A.A. increases students understanding of alcoholism, and related problems (p 125). In the study, students from Drug and behavior courses attend session of A.A (p 126). The students then wrote reaction papers, based on what they saw and heard. The students reported that attending the meetings increased their understanding of alcohol treatment (p 128). The study also addresses issues wit the comfort level of the students, and suggests way to increase their comfort levels in future studies of this type (p. 129).

Although this study does not directly involve…

Sources used in this document:
references so that the research can be reviewed by the reader (p. 560-561, p. 566). Also the journal in which the study was published is a reputable journal, so the results and study can be trusted for validity.

Call Number: AN 6582532, EBSCO Host

Vick, R. (Fall, 2002). Questioning the Use of Alcoholics Anonymous With College Students: Is an Old Concept the Only Alternative for a New Generation? Journal of College Counseling, 3 (2): 158-168.

Vick examines the effectiveness of A.A. within the college student subset of the population (p.160-161), and includes research in the area of A.A. related treatment (p. 160). In addition, Vick focuses on the reasons why A.A. may not be the best solution for college students (p. 160-161). Research of the prevalence of drinking in college students is also provided (p. 185-159). Alternative approaches which may be more effective than A.A. are also evaluated (p. 161-164). Vick concludes that, for many college students, alternative treatment methods are more successful than A.A for college students (p. 164-165).

This article is important because it shows that A.A. may not be the best treatment solution for all areas of the population (p. 164). In addition, relevant research is evaluated (p. 160-197), and appropriate citation is given at the end of the article (p. 168). Alternate methods are evaluated, providing a counter point to other studies (p. 161-165). In addition, the journal in which the article is published is a well-known, credible source of information.
Cite this Document:
Copy Bibliography Citation

Related Documents

Alcoholism Is Contagious Lisa Eliassen
Words: 3364 Length: 7 Document Type: Research Paper

" In addition, many anthropologists have agreed that "cultural expectations define the ways in which drinking, both normal and abnormal, is done in a society" (Mandelbaum 1965: 288) (Wilcox, 1998). Comparisons of drinking behavior patterns across cultures suggest that, "like all other behaviors in any given cultural system, were based on cultural expectations. Who drank and when and how much they drank was determined by custom" (Wilcox, 1998). For example,

Alcoholism Reading Critique Alcoholism Has
Words: 869 Length: 3 Document Type: Research Proposal

E. unbiased -- in its reach. They are very careful to examine the ramifications and implications of each facet of their conclusions. As an example, they note that the shift to outpatient treatment has been generally more effective for many patients with alcoholism, but at the same time this has reduced the number of beds available (and institutions, though the authors do not come to this direct conclusion) for inpatient

Chemical Dependency, Particularly Alcoholism, Within the History
Words: 3611 Length: 13 Document Type: Research Paper

Chemical Dependency, Particularly Alcoholism, Within the History Of Psychology Since the dawn of humankind, people have been experimenting with various chemicals for recreation, to alter their conscious state for religious purposes, or for medicinal applications. Indeed, a vast cornucopia of pharmaceutical preparations has been identified over the millennia that provide modern healthcare consumers with remedies for many human ailments, and more are being developed and identified every day. Used properly and

Exist Between Alcoholism As a Learned Behavior
Words: 8070 Length: 29 Document Type: Term Paper

exist between alcoholism as a learned behavior (rather than as a condition arising from any genetic predisposition) and self-esteem. This research is based upon the assumption that there is a direct connection between self-esteem and learned behaviors: While a person's self-esteem may of course be affected by inherited conditions (such as a birth defect) it is much more likely to be affected by conditions that the person believes that

Analyzing and Treating Alcoholism
Words: 1616 Length: 4 Document Type: Term Paper

Treating Alcoholism presents therapists with multi-dimensional issues -- multicultural understanding and contextual setting of the client (profession, family, history, work conditions and exposure to extraordinary conditions, in the case of those serving in the military), dominates these settings within which psychotherapists are required to work. Lack of adequate and healthy outlet for feelings; absence of recreation, often lead to excessive, and harmful drinking. Yet, each case is an independent experience

Parenting Program for Women and
Words: 41621 Length: 150 Document Type: Thesis

There are many of these individuals, and it is time that this is changed. Parents often look away from these kinds of problems, or they spend their time in denial of the issue because they feel that their child will not be harmed by parental involvement with drugs or alcohol. Some parents have parents that were/are addicts themselves, and some are so busy with their lives that they do not

Sign Up for Unlimited Study Help

Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.

Get Started Now