The concept of spirituality in relation to addiction recovery and general psychiatry.

This chapter is directed at defining the nature of spirituality and its relationship to empirical research and clinical practice.

A preliminary understanding of the spiritual experience can be achieved on the basis of diverse theoretical and empirically grounded sources, which will be delineated: namely, physiology, psychology, and cross-cultural sources.

Furthermore, the impact of spirituality on mental health and addiction in different cultural and clinical settings is explicated regarding both beneficial and compromising outcomes.

Illustrations of its application in addiction and general psychiatry are given: in meditative practices, Alcoholics Anonymous, and treatment programs for addiction singly and comorbid with major mental illness.

Given its prominence in Alcoholics Anonymous and related Twelve-Step groups, spirituality plays an important role in the rehabilitation of many substance-dependent people.

The issue of spirituality, however, is prominent within contemporary culture as well in the form of theistic orientation, as evidenced in a probability sampling of American adults, among whom 95% of respondents reply positively when asked if they believe in “God or a universal spirit.”

Responses to a follow-up on this question suggest that this belief affects the daily lives of the majority (51%) of those sampled, as they indicated that they had talked to someone about God or some aspect of their faith or spirituality within the previous 24 h.

Research report; Galanter M. The concept of spirituality in relation to addiction recovery and general psychiatry. Recent Dev Alcohol. 2008;18:125-40.

See also;

• AA Offers Recovery Not Religion
• ABC’s of Recovery
• Alcohol intervention may help.

Blue Like Jazz: Nonreligious Thoughts on Christian Spirituality

Brief-TSF manual; How to help an alcoholic find freedom from alcohol.

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Help set the ghosts of alcoholism free

Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET) is a systematic intervention approach for evoking change in problem drinkers.

It is based on principles of motivational psychology and is designed to produce rapid, internally motivated change. This treatment employs motivational strategies to mobilize the client’s own change resources.

MET consists of four carefully planned and individualized treatment sessions.

The first two focus on structured feedback from the initial assessment, future plans, and motivation for change,

The final two sessions at the midpoint and end of treatment provide opportunities for the therapist to reinforce progress, encourage reassessment, and provide an objective perspective on the process of change.

The counselor seeks to develop a discrepancy in the client’s perceptions between current behavior and significant personal goal; emphasis is placed on eliciting from clients self-motivational statements of desire for and commitment to change.

The working assumption is that intrinsic motivation is a necessary and often sufficient factor in instigating change.

See also;

• Address the drinking problem directly
• Alcohol & Medication Interactions
• Alcoholic Family Roles
• Brief-TSF is designed to as adjunctive therapy for anti-craving medication.

Drug and Alcohol Abuse: A Clinical Guide to Diagnosis and Treatment by Marc A. Schuckit Read more about this title…