Alcoholics Anonymous and the recovering alcoholic: an exploratory study.

Alcoholics Anonymous as a treatment modality for alcoholism has been widely accepted by both the public and mental health professionals. Evidence cited in this exploratory study of Alcoholics Anonymous membership among alcoholics in treatment demonstrated critical differences between Alcoholics Anonymous members and nonmembers on important dimensions related to the treatment of alcoholism. Alcoholics Anonymous members demonstrated a greater degree of internal locus of control, greater expectations of the successful outcome of treatment and less existential anxiety as compared to nonmembers. since these attributes are commonly encouraged in both the psychotherapeutic treatment of alcoholism and the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous, the utilization of Alcoholics Anonymous as a adjunct to traditional therapy for alcoholism may reinforce important therapeutic goals.