Principal Investigator: J. Scott Tonigan, Ph.D.
NIAAA, R21AA13073-01
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is the most popular approach in the United States for dealing with alcohol-related problems, and for many persons AA participation is associated with drinking reductions and improved psychosocial functioning. Both manual guided and less controlled studies of 12-step therapy indicate that it is equally effective as more research supported therapies, and may actually be superior when total abstinence is the treatment goal. While progress has been made in identifying the characteristics of AA affiliates, and the magnitude and kind of benefits AA may offer, we still know very little about the relationships between prescribed AA-related beliefs and practices and outcome. Central to linking AA-related change mechanisms with outcome is increased recognition of the importance of spiritual development in 12-step programs.
In response to the NIAAA and Fetzer Institute RFA on "Studying Spirituality and Alcohol" (AA-00-002), the purpose of this study was to conduct a 10-year follow-up of clients recruited into Project MATCH at the Albuquerque clinical research unit (N = 224). In addition to extending knowledge of the relative outcome of clients assigned to three psychosocial therapies beyond three-years, this study addressed the long-term development of spiritual beliefs and practices of AA exposed individuals. Spiritual development itself can be viewed as a dependent measure, a process measure, and as a predictor of outcome in regards to AA affiliation. This study examined each of these three perspectives of spiritual development, and in so doing offered a radically new definition of AA disaffiliation, one based upon the cessation of AA-related practices and beliefs rather than upon no longer attending AA meetings. Maturation is an important consideration when evaluating changes in AA-related spirituality over time because of the trend for aging individuals to increasingly embrace religious and spiritual beliefs and practices. This is an especially salient concern in a 10-year follow-up study, and the proposed study offered several strategies to partial out the unique aspects of spirituality as it is practiced in AA from generally occurring increases in spirituality.
Study Findings Are Reported In:Tonigan, J. S. (2003). Spirituality and AA Practices Three and Ten Years After Project MATCH. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, 26, (5, Supplement). 660A. (Abstract)
Tonigan, J.S., Carroll, R.L. & W. R. Miller (2003). Longitudinal Analysis of AA Attendance and Practices: What Does AA Meeting Attendance Really Project? Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, 26, (5, Supplement). 651A. (Abstract)
Tonigan, J.S. & Connors, G.J. (2003). Considerations When Assessing the Nature and Benefits of Long-Term Participation. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, 26, (5, Supplement). 650A. (Abstract) Tonigan, J.S. & Kelly, J.F. (2003). AA-Exposure and Attitudes of 12-Step Proscriptions About Medications. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, 26, (5, Supplement). 649A. (Abstract)
Tonigan, J.S. & Miller, W.R. (2003). 10-Year Treatment Outcome: Follow-up of the Albuquerque Project MATCH sample. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, 26, (5, Supplement). 636A. (Abstract)
Tonigan, J.S., Miller, W.R., Daughtery M., & R. L. Carroll. (2003). Project MATCH Treatment Participation and Outcome by Race: A Retrospective Analysis of African American Treatment Response. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, 26, (5, Supplement). 924A. (Abstract)
Westphal, V.K., Worth, L.M., & J. S. Tonigan. (2003). Nature and Stability of AA Participation Over a 10-Year Period in Project MATCH. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, 26, (5, Supplement). 652A. (Abstract)
Worth, L.M., Westphal, V.K., & J.S. Tonigan. (2003). Longitudinal Perspective of Changes in Religiosity and Spirituality Among Three AA Exposed Individuals in Project MATCH. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, 26, (5, Supplement). 653A. (Abstract)
Tonigan, J.S., Carroll, R.L., & Miller, W. R. AA group differences: Adoption of prescribed practices and beliefs. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, (Supplement) (Abstract)
Tonigan, J.S., Miller, W. R. The relative importance of pretreatment characteristics in predicting AA participation 10-years after treatment. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, (Supplement) (Abstract)
Tonigan, J.S., Forcehimes, A., & Miller, W. R. AA and emotional empathy: A study of secondary benefits associated with 12-step involvement. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, (Supplement) (Abstract)
Forcehimes, A. & Tonigan, J.S. (2003). A Retrospective Study of Treatment-Gender Matching: 10-Year Follow-up of the Project MATCH Albuquerque Sample. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, 26, (5, Supplement). 638A. (Abstract)
Logan, A.M. & Tonigan, J.S. (2003). Religiosity, Psychopathology, Twelve-Step Therapy, and AA Attendance. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, 26, (5, Supplement). 632A. (Abstract)
Maisto, S., Clifford P., & J.S. Tonigan. (2003). Initial and Long-Term Alcohol Treatment Success: 10-Year Study of the Project MATCH Albuquerque Sample. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, 26, (5, Supplement). 637A. (Abstract)
For more information, call (505) 925-2384, or email jtonigan@unm.edu
NIAAA, R21AA13073-01
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is the most popular approach in the United States for dealing with alcohol-related problems, and for many persons AA participation is associated with drinking reductions and improved psychosocial functioning. Both manual guided and less controlled studies of 12-step therapy indicate that it is equally effective as more research supported therapies, and may actually be superior when total abstinence is the treatment goal. While progress has been made in identifying the characteristics of AA affiliates, and the magnitude and kind of benefits AA may offer, we still know very little about the relationships between prescribed AA-related beliefs and practices and outcome. Central to linking AA-related change mechanisms with outcome is increased recognition of the importance of spiritual development in 12-step programs.
In response to the NIAAA and Fetzer Institute RFA on "Studying Spirituality and Alcohol" (AA-00-002), the purpose of this study was to conduct a 10-year follow-up of clients recruited into Project MATCH at the Albuquerque clinical research unit (N = 224). In addition to extending knowledge of the relative outcome of clients assigned to three psychosocial therapies beyond three-years, this study addressed the long-term development of spiritual beliefs and practices of AA exposed individuals. Spiritual development itself can be viewed as a dependent measure, a process measure, and as a predictor of outcome in regards to AA affiliation. This study examined each of these three perspectives of spiritual development, and in so doing offered a radically new definition of AA disaffiliation, one based upon the cessation of AA-related practices and beliefs rather than upon no longer attending AA meetings. Maturation is an important consideration when evaluating changes in AA-related spirituality over time because of the trend for aging individuals to increasingly embrace religious and spiritual beliefs and practices. This is an especially salient concern in a 10-year follow-up study, and the proposed study offered several strategies to partial out the unique aspects of spirituality as it is practiced in AA from generally occurring increases in spirituality.
Study Findings Are Reported In:
For more information, call (505) 925-2384, or email jtonigan@unm.edu
