Re: [Fwd: Psychometric Instruments Help Measure AA Process Variables]

[Guest guest]

It seems that these instruments measure success in AA, as opposed to

success in achieving abstinence (which is the usual goal of treatment

programs, and mandated by law in some states). Do we know whether

success in AA is linked to success in achieving abstinence? Or are

these instruments only intended to indicate which patients should be

steered to AA?

> Hello Everyone,

>

> Sorry, this will probably make most of you want to wretch, but you

might

> find it well worth reading.

>

> Ken Ragge

>

>

> --- Psychometric Instruments Help Measure AA Process Variables

> Date: Sun, 15 Apr 2001 12:43:10 -0500

> From: Al <alturner@A...>

> Reply-To: Academic and Scholarly Discussion of Addiction Related

> Topics <ADDICT-L@L...>

> To: ADDICT-L@L...

>

> January 19, 2001

>

> Psychometric Instruments Help Measure AA Process Variables

>

> Increasingly, clinicians and researchers are seeking means to

> measure the process variables that contribute to the effectiveness

> of alcoholism treatment. In an article published in a recent issue

> of the Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, researcher P.

> , Ph.D., of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and

> Alcoholism provides a critical list of instruments that measure

> process in Alcoholics Anonymous.

>

> According to , the process variables relevant to AA include

> such factors as how actively the patient is " working " the program;

> the extent to which he or she is incorporating AA concepts into

> daily living; and the degree of attendance and participation in AA.

> He notes that these factors are likely to be of interest to

> clinicians working with alcoholics in AA-oriented treatment

> programs, since these factors are important " proximal goals " of

> substance abuse treatment.

>

> identifies six instruments as relevant to the monitoring of AA

> process variables. The first is Gilbert's Steps Questionnaire

> (1991), which assesses patients' acceptance of the first three steps

> of AA. The instrument consists of 21 items rated on seven-point

> scales. The items have been shown to correlated with the underlying

> factors " powerlessness, " " higher power " and " surrender. " According

> to , the author of the Steps questionnaire cautions that

> further research is needed to confirm its predictive validity,

> particularly since the developmental study used a homogeneous sample

> (male veterans).

>

> The similarly titled Step Questionnaire (Carroll, 1993) measures

> patients' adherence to AA steps 11 and 12. Questions for step 11

> evaluate traditional religious participation, spirituality and

> spending time with art and nature. Step 12 examines activities like

> serving in AA meeting roles. says that there are questions

> regarding the construct validity of this measure, and notes that the

> instructions to respondents

> are ambiguous.

>

> Another instrument, the Brown- Recovery Progress Inventory,

> is designed to measure progress in AA. While its internal

> consistency is high, the content of several items is of a non-AA

> nature. In addition, it is a lengthy instrument (53 items) and was

> tested on a very small sample.

>

> The Alcoholics Anonymous Involvement Scale (AAI) assesses the degree

> to which a patient is " working " the program, as well as commitment

> to AA fellowship. It is a 13-item scale initially developed for use

> by Project MATCH, and has been used in two large normative database,

> high internal consistency and excellent test-retest reliability.

>

> The brief Alcoholics Anonymous Affiliation Scale is a nine-item

> instrument that, according to , has a " superb " level of

> psychometric construction and was developed using a large, varied

> subject sample. The items focus on AA-related experiences (having a

> sponsor, reading AA literature and attending meetings). Norms are

> available on several samples differing in gender, ethnicity,

> treatment setting and nature of insurance coverage.

>

> Finally, reviews The Surrender Scale, a 25-item instrument

> assessing four constructs: serene acceptance, spiritual surrender,

> letting go of control and positive attitude. Several studies

> employing this scale have found scores are associated with degree of

> AA involvement. Scores also predict relapse of inpatient alcoholics

> at one-year follow-up.

>

> Authors' conclusion:

>

> says that measuring AA process variables can help clinicians

> and researchers investigate why AA works for some patients and not

> others, and may be able to help develop individualized treatment

> goals. He notes, though, that assessment of these variables is at

> an early stage. Further work is needed to build on the advances

> made by these instruments and to continue to investigate the

> patient characteristics and processes involved in successful use of

> AA.

>

> JP: Measuring treatment process variables in Alcoholics

> Anonymous. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment 2000; 18: 227-230.

> Reprint requests to: Dr. , Division of Clinical and Prevention

> Research, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Wilco

> Building, Suite 505, 6000 Executive Blvd., Bethesda, MD 20892.

>

> Suggested reading:

>

> Sebenick CW: Spirituality and AA recovery. The Counselor, 1997;

> 14-17. McCrady BS, WR (Eds): Research on Alcoholics

> Anonymous: opportunities and alternatives. New Brunswick, NJ:

> Rutgers University, 1993.

>

> Reprinted from The Brown University Digest of Addiction Theory and

> Application, January 2001, Vol. 20, No. 1

>

> -----------------------------------------------------------

> To unsubscribe put- unsubscribe Addict-L -in the body of a

> message to: listserv@l...

> -----------------------------------------------------------

> List archives and subscription options are at:

> http://listserv.kent.edu/archives/Addict-L.html

> -----------------------------------------------------------

> Send requests for help to

> Addict-L-request@l...

> -----------------------------------------------------------

> Addict-L Website - Under Construction!!

> http://addict-l.webjump.com

> -----------------------------------------------------------

[Guest guest]

It seems that these instruments measure success in AA, as opposed to

success in achieving abstinence (which is the usual goal of treatment

programs, and mandated by law in some states). Do we know whether

success in AA is linked to success in achieving abstinence? Or are

these instruments only intended to indicate which patients should be

steered to AA?

> Hello Everyone,

>

> Sorry, this will probably make most of you want to wretch, but you

might

> find it well worth reading.

>

> Ken Ragge

>

>

> --- Psychometric Instruments Help Measure AA Process Variables

> Date: Sun, 15 Apr 2001 12:43:10 -0500

> From: Al <alturner@A...>

> Reply-To: Academic and Scholarly Discussion of Addiction Related

> Topics <ADDICT-L@L...>

> To: ADDICT-L@L...

>

> January 19, 2001

>

> Psychometric Instruments Help Measure AA Process Variables

>

> Increasingly, clinicians and researchers are seeking means to

> measure the process variables that contribute to the effectiveness

> of alcoholism treatment. In an article published in a recent issue

> of the Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, researcher P.

> , Ph.D., of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and

> Alcoholism provides a critical list of instruments that measure

> process in Alcoholics Anonymous.

>

> According to , the process variables relevant to AA include

> such factors as how actively the patient is " working " the program;

> the extent to which he or she is incorporating AA concepts into

> daily living; and the degree of attendance and participation in AA.

> He notes that these factors are likely to be of interest to

> clinicians working with alcoholics in AA-oriented treatment

> programs, since these factors are important " proximal goals " of

> substance abuse treatment.

>

> identifies six instruments as relevant to the monitoring of AA

> process variables. The first is Gilbert's Steps Questionnaire

> (1991), which assesses patients' acceptance of the first three steps

> of AA. The instrument consists of 21 items rated on seven-point

> scales. The items have been shown to correlated with the underlying

> factors " powerlessness, " " higher power " and " surrender. " According

> to , the author of the Steps questionnaire cautions that

> further research is needed to confirm its predictive validity,

> particularly since the developmental study used a homogeneous sample

> (male veterans).

>

> The similarly titled Step Questionnaire (Carroll, 1993) measures

> patients' adherence to AA steps 11 and 12. Questions for step 11

> evaluate traditional religious participation, spirituality and

> spending time with art and nature. Step 12 examines activities like

> serving in AA meeting roles. says that there are questions

> regarding the construct validity of this measure, and notes that the

> instructions to respondents

> are ambiguous.

>

> Another instrument, the Brown- Recovery Progress Inventory,

> is designed to measure progress in AA. While its internal

> consistency is high, the content of several items is of a non-AA

> nature. In addition, it is a lengthy instrument (53 items) and was

> tested on a very small sample.

>

> The Alcoholics Anonymous Involvement Scale (AAI) assesses the degree

> to which a patient is " working " the program, as well as commitment

> to AA fellowship. It is a 13-item scale initially developed for use

> by Project MATCH, and has been used in two large normative database,

> high internal consistency and excellent test-retest reliability.

>

> The brief Alcoholics Anonymous Affiliation Scale is a nine-item

> instrument that, according to , has a " superb " level of

> psychometric construction and was developed using a large, varied

> subject sample. The items focus on AA-related experiences (having a

> sponsor, reading AA literature and attending meetings). Norms are

> available on several samples differing in gender, ethnicity,

> treatment setting and nature of insurance coverage.

>

> Finally, reviews The Surrender Scale, a 25-item instrument

> assessing four constructs: serene acceptance, spiritual surrender,

> letting go of control and positive attitude. Several studies

> employing this scale have found scores are associated with degree of

> AA involvement. Scores also predict relapse of inpatient alcoholics

> at one-year follow-up.

>

> Authors' conclusion:

>

> says that measuring AA process variables can help clinicians

> and researchers investigate why AA works for some patients and not

> others, and may be able to help develop individualized treatment

> goals. He notes, though, that assessment of these variables is at

> an early stage. Further work is needed to build on the advances

> made by these instruments and to continue to investigate the

> patient characteristics and processes involved in successful use of

> AA.

>

> JP: Measuring treatment process variables in Alcoholics

> Anonymous. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment 2000; 18: 227-230.

> Reprint requests to: Dr. , Division of Clinical and Prevention

> Research, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Wilco

> Building, Suite 505, 6000 Executive Blvd., Bethesda, MD 20892.

>

> Suggested reading:

>

> Sebenick CW: Spirituality and AA recovery. The Counselor, 1997;

> 14-17. McCrady BS, WR (Eds): Research on Alcoholics

> Anonymous: opportunities and alternatives. New Brunswick, NJ:

> Rutgers University, 1993.

>

> Reprinted from The Brown University Digest of Addiction Theory and

> Application, January 2001, Vol. 20, No. 1

>

> -----------------------------------------------------------

> To unsubscribe put- unsubscribe Addict-L -in the body of a

> message to: listserv@l...

> -----------------------------------------------------------

> List archives and subscription options are at:

> http://listserv.kent.edu/archives/Addict-L.html

> -----------------------------------------------------------

> Send requests for help to

> Addict-L-request@l...

> -----------------------------------------------------------

> Addict-L Website - Under Construction!!

> http://addict-l.webjump.com

> -----------------------------------------------------------

[Guest guest]

It seems that these instruments measure success in AA, as opposed to

success in achieving abstinence (which is the usual goal of treatment

programs, and mandated by law in some states). Do we know whether

success in AA is linked to success in achieving abstinence? Or are

these instruments only intended to indicate which patients should be

steered to AA?

> Hello Everyone,

>

> Sorry, this will probably make most of you want to wretch, but you

might

> find it well worth reading.

>

> Ken Ragge

>

>

> --- Psychometric Instruments Help Measure AA Process Variables

> Date: Sun, 15 Apr 2001 12:43:10 -0500

> From: Al <alturner@A...>

> Reply-To: Academic and Scholarly Discussion of Addiction Related

> Topics <ADDICT-L@L...>

> To: ADDICT-L@L...

>

> January 19, 2001

>

> Psychometric Instruments Help Measure AA Process Variables

>

> Increasingly, clinicians and researchers are seeking means to

> measure the process variables that contribute to the effectiveness

> of alcoholism treatment. In an article published in a recent issue

> of the Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, researcher P.

> , Ph.D., of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and

> Alcoholism provides a critical list of instruments that measure

> process in Alcoholics Anonymous.

>

> According to , the process variables relevant to AA include

> such factors as how actively the patient is " working " the program;

> the extent to which he or she is incorporating AA concepts into

> daily living; and the degree of attendance and participation in AA.

> He notes that these factors are likely to be of interest to

> clinicians working with alcoholics in AA-oriented treatment

> programs, since these factors are important " proximal goals " of

> substance abuse treatment.

>

> identifies six instruments as relevant to the monitoring of AA

> process variables. The first is Gilbert's Steps Questionnaire

> (1991), which assesses patients' acceptance of the first three steps

> of AA. The instrument consists of 21 items rated on seven-point

> scales. The items have been shown to correlated with the underlying

> factors " powerlessness, " " higher power " and " surrender. " According

> to , the author of the Steps questionnaire cautions that

> further research is needed to confirm its predictive validity,

> particularly since the developmental study used a homogeneous sample

> (male veterans).

>

> The similarly titled Step Questionnaire (Carroll, 1993) measures

> patients' adherence to AA steps 11 and 12. Questions for step 11

> evaluate traditional religious participation, spirituality and

> spending time with art and nature. Step 12 examines activities like

> serving in AA meeting roles. says that there are questions

> regarding the construct validity of this measure, and notes that the

> instructions to respondents

> are ambiguous.

>

> Another instrument, the Brown- Recovery Progress Inventory,

> is designed to measure progress in AA. While its internal

> consistency is high, the content of several items is of a non-AA

> nature. In addition, it is a lengthy instrument (53 items) and was

> tested on a very small sample.

>

> The Alcoholics Anonymous Involvement Scale (AAI) assesses the degree

> to which a patient is " working " the program, as well as commitment

> to AA fellowship. It is a 13-item scale initially developed for use

> by Project MATCH, and has been used in two large normative database,

> high internal consistency and excellent test-retest reliability.

>

> The brief Alcoholics Anonymous Affiliation Scale is a nine-item

> instrument that, according to , has a " superb " level of

> psychometric construction and was developed using a large, varied

> subject sample. The items focus on AA-related experiences (having a

> sponsor, reading AA literature and attending meetings). Norms are

> available on several samples differing in gender, ethnicity,

> treatment setting and nature of insurance coverage.

>

> Finally, reviews The Surrender Scale, a 25-item instrument

> assessing four constructs: serene acceptance, spiritual surrender,

> letting go of control and positive attitude. Several studies

> employing this scale have found scores are associated with degree of

> AA involvement. Scores also predict relapse of inpatient alcoholics

> at one-year follow-up.

>

> Authors' conclusion:

>

> says that measuring AA process variables can help clinicians

> and researchers investigate why AA works for some patients and not

> others, and may be able to help develop individualized treatment

> goals. He notes, though, that assessment of these variables is at

> an early stage. Further work is needed to build on the advances

> made by these instruments and to continue to investigate the

> patient characteristics and processes involved in successful use of

> AA.

>

> JP: Measuring treatment process variables in Alcoholics

> Anonymous. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment 2000; 18: 227-230.

> Reprint requests to: Dr. , Division of Clinical and Prevention

> Research, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Wilco

> Building, Suite 505, 6000 Executive Blvd., Bethesda, MD 20892.

>

> Suggested reading:

>

> Sebenick CW: Spirituality and AA recovery. The Counselor, 1997;

> 14-17. McCrady BS, WR (Eds): Research on Alcoholics

> Anonymous: opportunities and alternatives. New Brunswick, NJ:

> Rutgers University, 1993.

>

> Reprinted from The Brown University Digest of Addiction Theory and

> Application, January 2001, Vol. 20, No. 1

>

> -----------------------------------------------------------

> To unsubscribe put- unsubscribe Addict-L -in the body of a

> message to: listserv@l...

> -----------------------------------------------------------

> List archives and subscription options are at:

> http://listserv.kent.edu/archives/Addict-L.html

> -----------------------------------------------------------

> Send requests for help to

> Addict-L-request@l...

> -----------------------------------------------------------

> Addict-L Website - Under Construction!!

> http://addict-l.webjump.com

> -----------------------------------------------------------

[Guest guest]

> Hello Everyone,

>

> Sorry, this will probably make most of you want to wretch, but you

might

> find it well worth reading.

>

> Ken Ragge

Hi Ken,

I found this fascinating and truly amazing. Underlying all of this is

the assumption that conforming to AA is a beneficial thing to do. It

must be that I've traveled so far away from that viewpoint that it

seems to be coming from outer space. Perhaps I can use these

citations for my sociology term paper.

The other night on NYPD Blue, Sipowitcz (a stepper) does a 12th step

on a man whose daughter is murdered and who was so drunk that he

didn't even hear anything going on. Even then the guy says " I'll call

you, " and Sipowitcz remarks later that he still " isn't ready. " It

was making me think about the value of support groups, especially

voluntary support groups.

I don't believe that AA is a voluntary group in many instances. I see

more and more coersion. When I was filling out the financial aid

papers for school there were some questions on there regarding

possession convictions. If you have one, you aren't eligible for

financial aid unless you go to " treatment. " I saw this as a huge

barrier for some people for a relatively minor offence. Maybe if

" treatment " wasn't basically conversion to a religion it wouldn't be

so bad. However, that is *exactly* what it is as these " psychometric

measures " confirm.

See you,

>

>

> --- Psychometric Instruments Help Measure AA Process Variables

> Date: Sun, 15 Apr 2001 12:43:10 -0500

> From: Al <alturner@A...>

> Reply-To: Academic and Scholarly Discussion of Addiction Related

> Topics <ADDICT-L@L...>

> To: ADDICT-L@L...

>

> January 19, 2001

>

> Psychometric Instruments Help Measure AA Process Variables

>

> Increasingly, clinicians and researchers are seeking means to

> measure the process variables that contribute to the effectiveness

> of alcoholism treatment. In an article published in a recent issue

> of the Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, researcher P.

> , Ph.D., of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and

> Alcoholism provides a critical list of instruments that measure

> process in Alcoholics Anonymous.

>

> According to , the process variables relevant to AA include

> such factors as how actively the patient is " working " the program;

> the extent to which he or she is incorporating AA concepts into

> daily living; and the degree of attendance and participation in AA.

> He notes that these factors are likely to be of interest to

> clinicians working with alcoholics in AA-oriented treatment

> programs, since these factors are important " proximal goals " of

> substance abuse treatment.

>

> identifies six instruments as relevant to the monitoring of AA

> process variables. The first is Gilbert's Steps Questionnaire

> (1991), which assesses patients' acceptance of the first three steps

> of AA. The instrument consists of 21 items rated on seven-point

> scales. The items have been shown to correlated with the underlying

> factors " powerlessness, " " higher power " and " surrender. " According

> to , the author of the Steps questionnaire cautions that

> further research is needed to confirm its predictive validity,

> particularly since the developmental study used a homogeneous sample

> (male veterans).

>

> The similarly titled Step Questionnaire (Carroll, 1993) measures

> patients' adherence to AA steps 11 and 12. Questions for step 11

> evaluate traditional religious participation, spirituality and

> spending time with art and nature. Step 12 examines activities like

> serving in AA meeting roles. says that there are questions

> regarding the construct validity of this measure, and notes that the

> instructions to respondents

> are ambiguous.

>

> Another instrument, the Brown- Recovery Progress Inventory,

> is designed to measure progress in AA. While its internal

> consistency is high, the content of several items is of a non-AA

> nature. In addition, it is a lengthy instrument (53 items) and was

> tested on a very small sample.

>

> The Alcoholics Anonymous Involvement Scale (AAI) assesses the degree

> to which a patient is " working " the program, as well as commitment

> to AA fellowship. It is a 13-item scale initially developed for use

> by Project MATCH, and has been used in two large normative database,

> high internal consistency and excellent test-retest reliability.

>

> The brief Alcoholics Anonymous Affiliation Scale is a nine-item

> instrument that, according to , has a " superb " level of

> psychometric construction and was developed using a large, varied

> subject sample. The items focus on AA-related experiences (having a

> sponsor, reading AA literature and attending meetings). Norms are

> available on several samples differing in gender, ethnicity,

> treatment setting and nature of insurance coverage.

>

> Finally, reviews The Surrender Scale, a 25-item instrument

> assessing four constructs: serene acceptance, spiritual surrender,

> letting go of control and positive attitude. Several studies

> employing this scale have found scores are associated with degree of

> AA involvement. Scores also predict relapse of inpatient alcoholics

> at one-year follow-up.

>

> Authors' conclusion:

>

> says that measuring AA process variables can help clinicians

> and researchers investigate why AA works for some patients and not

> others, and may be able to help develop individualized treatment

> goals. He notes, though, that assessment of these variables is at

> an early stage. Further work is needed to build on the advances

> made by these instruments and to continue to investigate the

> patient characteristics and processes involved in successful use of

> AA.

>

> JP: Measuring treatment process variables in Alcoholics

> Anonymous. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment 2000; 18: 227-230.

> Reprint requests to: Dr. , Division of Clinical and Prevention

> Research, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Wilco

> Building, Suite 505, 6000 Executive Blvd., Bethesda, MD 20892.

>

> Suggested reading:

>

> Sebenick CW: Spirituality and AA recovery. The Counselor, 1997;

> 14-17. McCrady BS, WR (Eds): Research on Alcoholics

> Anonymous: opportunities and alternatives. New Brunswick, NJ:

> Rutgers University, 1993.

>

> Reprinted from The Brown University Digest of Addiction Theory and

> Application, January 2001, Vol. 20, No. 1

>

> -----------------------------------------------------------

> To unsubscribe put- unsubscribe Addict-L -in the body of a

> message to: listserv@l...

> -----------------------------------------------------------

> List archives and subscription options are at:

> http://listserv.kent.edu/archives/Addict-L.html

> -----------------------------------------------------------

> Send requests for help to

> Addict-L-request@l...

> -----------------------------------------------------------

> Addict-L Website - Under Construction!!

> http://addict-l.webjump.com

> -----------------------------------------------------------

[Guest guest]

> Hello Everyone,

>

> Sorry, this will probably make most of you want to wretch, but you

might

> find it well worth reading.

>

> Ken Ragge

Hi Ken,

I found this fascinating and truly amazing. Underlying all of this is

the assumption that conforming to AA is a beneficial thing to do. It

must be that I've traveled so far away from that viewpoint that it

seems to be coming from outer space. Perhaps I can use these

citations for my sociology term paper.

The other night on NYPD Blue, Sipowitcz (a stepper) does a 12th step

on a man whose daughter is murdered and who was so drunk that he

didn't even hear anything going on. Even then the guy says " I'll call

you, " and Sipowitcz remarks later that he still " isn't ready. " It

was making me think about the value of support groups, especially

voluntary support groups.

I don't believe that AA is a voluntary group in many instances. I see

more and more coersion. When I was filling out the financial aid

papers for school there were some questions on there regarding

possession convictions. If you have one, you aren't eligible for

financial aid unless you go to " treatment. " I saw this as a huge

barrier for some people for a relatively minor offence. Maybe if

" treatment " wasn't basically conversion to a religion it wouldn't be

so bad. However, that is *exactly* what it is as these " psychometric

measures " confirm.

See you,

>

>

> --- Psychometric Instruments Help Measure AA Process Variables

> Date: Sun, 15 Apr 2001 12:43:10 -0500

> From: Al <alturner@A...>

> Reply-To: Academic and Scholarly Discussion of Addiction Related

> Topics <ADDICT-L@L...>

> To: ADDICT-L@L...

>

> January 19, 2001

>

> Psychometric Instruments Help Measure AA Process Variables

>

> Increasingly, clinicians and researchers are seeking means to

> measure the process variables that contribute to the effectiveness

> of alcoholism treatment. In an article published in a recent issue

> of the Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, researcher P.

> , Ph.D., of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and

> Alcoholism provides a critical list of instruments that measure

> process in Alcoholics Anonymous.

>

> According to , the process variables relevant to AA include

> such factors as how actively the patient is " working " the program;

> the extent to which he or she is incorporating AA concepts into

> daily living; and the degree of attendance and participation in AA.

> He notes that these factors are likely to be of interest to

> clinicians working with alcoholics in AA-oriented treatment

> programs, since these factors are important " proximal goals " of

> substance abuse treatment.

>

> identifies six instruments as relevant to the monitoring of AA

> process variables. The first is Gilbert's Steps Questionnaire

> (1991), which assesses patients' acceptance of the first three steps

> of AA. The instrument consists of 21 items rated on seven-point

> scales. The items have been shown to correlated with the underlying

> factors " powerlessness, " " higher power " and " surrender. " According

> to , the author of the Steps questionnaire cautions that

> further research is needed to confirm its predictive validity,

> particularly since the developmental study used a homogeneous sample

> (male veterans).

>

> The similarly titled Step Questionnaire (Carroll, 1993) measures

> patients' adherence to AA steps 11 and 12. Questions for step 11

> evaluate traditional religious participation, spirituality and

> spending time with art and nature. Step 12 examines activities like

> serving in AA meeting roles. says that there are questions

> regarding the construct validity of this measure, and notes that the

> instructions to respondents

> are ambiguous.

>

> Another instrument, the Brown- Recovery Progress Inventory,

> is designed to measure progress in AA. While its internal

> consistency is high, the content of several items is of a non-AA

> nature. In addition, it is a lengthy instrument (53 items) and was

> tested on a very small sample.

>

> The Alcoholics Anonymous Involvement Scale (AAI) assesses the degree

> to which a patient is " working " the program, as well as commitment

> to AA fellowship. It is a 13-item scale initially developed for use

> by Project MATCH, and has been used in two large normative database,

> high internal consistency and excellent test-retest reliability.

>

> The brief Alcoholics Anonymous Affiliation Scale is a nine-item

> instrument that, according to , has a " superb " level of

> psychometric construction and was developed using a large, varied

> subject sample. The items focus on AA-related experiences (having a

> sponsor, reading AA literature and attending meetings). Norms are

> available on several samples differing in gender, ethnicity,

> treatment setting and nature of insurance coverage.

>

> Finally, reviews The Surrender Scale, a 25-item instrument

> assessing four constructs: serene acceptance, spiritual surrender,

> letting go of control and positive attitude. Several studies

> employing this scale have found scores are associated with degree of

> AA involvement. Scores also predict relapse of inpatient alcoholics

> at one-year follow-up.

>

> Authors' conclusion:

>

> says that measuring AA process variables can help clinicians

> and researchers investigate why AA works for some patients and not

> others, and may be able to help develop individualized treatment

> goals. He notes, though, that assessment of these variables is at

> an early stage. Further work is needed to build on the advances

> made by these instruments and to continue to investigate the

> patient characteristics and processes involved in successful use of

> AA.

>

> JP: Measuring treatment process variables in Alcoholics

> Anonymous. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment 2000; 18: 227-230.

> Reprint requests to: Dr. , Division of Clinical and Prevention

> Research, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Wilco

> Building, Suite 505, 6000 Executive Blvd., Bethesda, MD 20892.

>

> Suggested reading:

>

> Sebenick CW: Spirituality and AA recovery. The Counselor, 1997;

> 14-17. McCrady BS, WR (Eds): Research on Alcoholics

> Anonymous: opportunities and alternatives. New Brunswick, NJ:

> Rutgers University, 1993.

>

> Reprinted from The Brown University Digest of Addiction Theory and

> Application, January 2001, Vol. 20, No. 1

>

> -----------------------------------------------------------

> To unsubscribe put- unsubscribe Addict-L -in the body of a

> message to: listserv@l...

> -----------------------------------------------------------

> List archives and subscription options are at:

> http://listserv.kent.edu/archives/Addict-L.html

> -----------------------------------------------------------

> Send requests for help to

> Addict-L-request@l...

> -----------------------------------------------------------

> Addict-L Website - Under Construction!!

> http://addict-l.webjump.com

> -----------------------------------------------------------

[Guest guest]

Pass the sick bag Doris...

..

-----Original Message-----From: Ken Sent: Monday, 16 April 2001 5:28 AMTo: 12-step-free Subject: [Fwd: Psychometric Instruments Help Measure AA Process Variables]Hello Everyone,Sorry, this will probably make most of you want to wretch, but you mightfind it well worth reading.Ken Ragge--- Psychometric Instruments Help Measure AA Process VariablesDate: Sun, 15 Apr 2001 12:43:10 -0500Reply-To: Academic and Scholarly Discussion of Addiction RelatedTopics To: ADDICT-L@...January 19, 2001Psychometric Instruments Help Measure AA Process VariablesIncreasingly, clinicians and researchers are seeking means tomeasure the process variables that contribute to the effectivenessof alcoholism treatment. In an article published in a recent issueof the Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, researcher P., Ph.D., of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse andAlcoholism provides a critical list of instruments that measureprocess in Alcoholics Anonymous.According to , the process variables relevant to AA includesuch factors as how actively the patient is "working" the program;the extent to which he or she is incorporating AA concepts intodaily living; and the degree of attendance and participation in AA.He notes that these factors are likely to be of interest toclinicians working with alcoholics in AA-oriented treatmentprograms, since these factors are important "proximal goals" ofsubstance abuse treatment. identifies six instruments as relevant to the monitoring of AAprocess variables. The first is Gilbert's Steps Questionnaire(1991), which assesses patients' acceptance of the first three stepsof AA. The instrument consists of 21 items rated on seven-pointscales. The items have been shown to correlated with the underlyingfactors "powerlessness," "higher power" and "surrender." Accordingto , the author of the Steps questionnaire cautions thatfurther research is needed to confirm its predictive validity,particularly since the developmental study used a homogeneous sample(male veterans).The similarly titled Step Questionnaire (Carroll, 1993) measurespatients' adherence to AA steps 11 and 12. Questions for step 11evaluate traditional religious participation, spirituality andspending time with art and nature. Step 12 examines activities likeserving in AA meeting roles. says that there are questionsregarding the construct validity of this measure, and notes that theinstructions to respondentsare ambiguous.Another instrument, the Brown- Recovery Progress Inventory,is designed to measure progress in AA. While its internalconsistency is high, the content of several items is of a non-AAnature. In addition, it is a lengthy instrument (53 items) and wastested on a very small sample.The Alcoholics Anonymous Involvement Scale (AAI) assesses the degreeto which a patient is "working" the program, as well as commitmentto AA fellowship. It is a 13-item scale initially developed for useby Project MATCH, and has been used in two large normative database,high internal consistency and excellent test-retest reliability.The brief Alcoholics Anonymous Affiliation Scale is a nine-iteminstrument that, according to , has a "superb" level ofpsychometric construction and was developed using a large, variedsubject sample. The items focus on AA-related experiences (having asponsor, reading AA literature and attending meetings). Norms areavailable on several samples differing in gender, ethnicity,treatment setting and nature of insurance coverage.Finally, reviews The Surrender Scale, a 25-item instrumentassessing four constructs: serene acceptance, spiritual surrender,letting go of control and positive attitude. Several studiesemploying this scale have found scores are associated with degree ofAA involvement. Scores also predict relapse of inpatient alcoholicsat one-year follow-up.Authors' conclusion: says that measuring AA process variables can help cliniciansand researchers investigate why AA works for some patients and notothers, and may be able to help develop individualized treatmentgoals. He notes, though, that assessment of these variables is atan early stage. Further work is needed to build on the advancesmade by these instruments and to continue to investigate thepatient characteristics and processes involved in successful use ofAA. JP: Measuring treatment process variables in AlcoholicsAnonymous. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment 2000; 18: 227-230.Reprint requests to: Dr. , Division of Clinical and PreventionResearch, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, WilcoBuilding, Suite 505, 6000 Executive Blvd., Bethesda, MD 20892.Suggested reading:Sebenick CW: Spirituality and AA recovery. The Counselor, 1997;14-17. McCrady BS, WR (Eds): Research on AlcoholicsAnonymous: opportunities and alternatives. New Brunswick, NJ:Rutgers University, 1993.Reprinted from The Brown University Digest of Addiction Theory andApplication, January 2001, Vol. 20, No. 1-----------------------------------------------------------To unsubscribe put- unsubscribe Addict-L -in the body of amessage to: listserv@...-----------------------------------------------------------List archives and subscription options are at:http://listserv.kent.edu/archives/Addict-L.html-----------------------------------------------------------Send requests for help toAddict-L-request@...-----------------------------------------------------------Addict-L Website - Under Construction!!http://addict-l.webjump.com-----------------------------------------------------------

[Guest guest]

Pass the sick bag Doris...

..

-----Original Message-----From: Ken Sent: Monday, 16 April 2001 5:28 AMTo: 12-step-free Subject: [Fwd: Psychometric Instruments Help Measure AA Process Variables]Hello Everyone,Sorry, this will probably make most of you want to wretch, but you mightfind it well worth reading.Ken Ragge--- Psychometric Instruments Help Measure AA Process VariablesDate: Sun, 15 Apr 2001 12:43:10 -0500Reply-To: Academic and Scholarly Discussion of Addiction RelatedTopics To: ADDICT-L@...January 19, 2001Psychometric Instruments Help Measure AA Process VariablesIncreasingly, clinicians and researchers are seeking means tomeasure the process variables that contribute to the effectivenessof alcoholism treatment. In an article published in a recent issueof the Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, researcher P., Ph.D., of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse andAlcoholism provides a critical list of instruments that measureprocess in Alcoholics Anonymous.According to , the process variables relevant to AA includesuch factors as how actively the patient is "working" the program;the extent to which he or she is incorporating AA concepts intodaily living; and the degree of attendance and participation in AA.He notes that these factors are likely to be of interest toclinicians working with alcoholics in AA-oriented treatmentprograms, since these factors are important "proximal goals" ofsubstance abuse treatment. identifies six instruments as relevant to the monitoring of AAprocess variables. The first is Gilbert's Steps Questionnaire(1991), which assesses patients' acceptance of the first three stepsof AA. The instrument consists of 21 items rated on seven-pointscales. The items have been shown to correlated with the underlyingfactors "powerlessness," "higher power" and "surrender." Accordingto , the author of the Steps questionnaire cautions thatfurther research is needed to confirm its predictive validity,particularly since the developmental study used a homogeneous sample(male veterans).The similarly titled Step Questionnaire (Carroll, 1993) measurespatients' adherence to AA steps 11 and 12. Questions for step 11evaluate traditional religious participation, spirituality andspending time with art and nature. Step 12 examines activities likeserving in AA meeting roles. says that there are questionsregarding the construct validity of this measure, and notes that theinstructions to respondentsare ambiguous.Another instrument, the Brown- Recovery Progress Inventory,is designed to measure progress in AA. While its internalconsistency is high, the content of several items is of a non-AAnature. In addition, it is a lengthy instrument (53 items) and wastested on a very small sample.The Alcoholics Anonymous Involvement Scale (AAI) assesses the degreeto which a patient is "working" the program, as well as commitmentto AA fellowship. It is a 13-item scale initially developed for useby Project MATCH, and has been used in two large normative database,high internal consistency and excellent test-retest reliability.The brief Alcoholics Anonymous Affiliation Scale is a nine-iteminstrument that, according to , has a "superb" level ofpsychometric construction and was developed using a large, variedsubject sample. The items focus on AA-related experiences (having asponsor, reading AA literature and attending meetings). Norms areavailable on several samples differing in gender, ethnicity,treatment setting and nature of insurance coverage.Finally, reviews The Surrender Scale, a 25-item instrumentassessing four constructs: serene acceptance, spiritual surrender,letting go of control and positive attitude. Several studiesemploying this scale have found scores are associated with degree ofAA involvement. Scores also predict relapse of inpatient alcoholicsat one-year follow-up.Authors' conclusion: says that measuring AA process variables can help cliniciansand researchers investigate why AA works for some patients and notothers, and may be able to help develop individualized treatmentgoals. He notes, though, that assessment of these variables is atan early stage. Further work is needed to build on the advancesmade by these instruments and to continue to investigate thepatient characteristics and processes involved in successful use ofAA. JP: Measuring treatment process variables in AlcoholicsAnonymous. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment 2000; 18: 227-230.Reprint requests to: Dr. , Division of Clinical and PreventionResearch, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, WilcoBuilding, Suite 505, 6000 Executive Blvd., Bethesda, MD 20892.Suggested reading:Sebenick CW: Spirituality and AA recovery. The Counselor, 1997;14-17. McCrady BS, WR (Eds): Research on AlcoholicsAnonymous: opportunities and alternatives. New Brunswick, NJ:Rutgers University, 1993.Reprinted from The Brown University Digest of Addiction Theory andApplication, January 2001, Vol. 20, No. 1-----------------------------------------------------------To unsubscribe put- unsubscribe Addict-L -in the body of amessage to: listserv@...-----------------------------------------------------------List archives and subscription options are at:http://listserv.kent.edu/archives/Addict-L.html-----------------------------------------------------------Send requests for help toAddict-L-request@...-----------------------------------------------------------Addict-L Website - Under Construction!!http://addict-l.webjump.com-----------------------------------------------------------

[Guest guest]

kayleighs@... wrote:

> It seems that these instruments measure success in AA, as opposed to

> success in achieving abstinence (which is the usual goal of treatment

> programs, and mandated by law in some states). Do we know whether

> success in AA is linked to success in achieving abstinence? Or are

> these instruments only intended to indicate which patients should be

> steered to AA?

Kayleigh,

From what I can gather, if they are like most of what passes for treatment

science,

they are merely intended to " scientifically " (in language only) demonstrate

the already firmly held (and perhaps well financially rewarded) position that

" It really works! "

Ken

[Guest guest]

ahicks@... wrote:

>

> > Hello Everyone,

> >

> > Sorry, this will probably make most of you want to wretch, but you

> might

> > find it well worth reading.

> >

> > Ken Ragge

>

> Hi Ken,

>

> I found this fascinating and truly amazing. Underlying all of this is

> the assumption that conforming to AA is a beneficial thing to do. It

> must be that I've traveled so far away from that viewpoint that it

> seems to be coming from outer space. Perhaps I can use these

> citations for my sociology term paper.

Hi ,

Just make sure your sociology instructor isn't a grouper if your grade is

important. <G>

>

>

> The other night on NYPD Blue, Sipowitcz (a stepper) does a 12th step

> on a man whose daughter is murdered and who was so drunk that he

> didn't even hear anything going on. Even then the guy says " I'll call

> you, " and Sipowitcz remarks later that he still " isn't ready. " It

> was making me think about the value of support groups, especially

> voluntary support groups.

>

> I don't believe that AA is a voluntary group in many instances. I see

> more and more coersion. When I was filling out the financial aid

> papers for school there were some questions on there regarding

> possession convictions. If you have one, you aren't eligible for

> financial aid unless you go to " treatment. " I saw this as a huge

> barrier for some people for a relatively minor offence. Maybe if

> " treatment " wasn't basically conversion to a religion it wouldn't be

> so bad. However, that is *exactly* what it is as these " psychometric

> measures " confirm.

>

I saw a report on another study that showed that those who " surrendered " or

some such similar nonsense had lower levels of anxiety. There is no end to

the nonsense that comes from addiction science. When I was writing my book,

I wanted to devote a chapter to " silly science " but never got around to it.

There is so much material, it is a shame that I (and no one else) has gotten

around to it.

Ken

>

> See you,

>

[Guest guest]

>

> Hi ,

>

> Just make sure your sociology instructor isn't a grouper if your

grade is

> important. <G>

<VBG> She's not. We've talked about it a bit already and I could tell

she was leery at first thinking I might be one...

Actually, I'm finding that AA may qualify as a " subculture of

deviance. " Characteristics are 1)use of argot or jargon; 2)a set of

shared beliefs and norms, which contrast in direction or emphasis with

the norms of other groups, such as the larger society; 3)contacts

between members through which behavior is learned and membership in

the group is confirmed; 4)Sometimes a specialized way of dressing and

acting that, like argot, serves to distinguish the members from those

of other groups and assist in identifying members to one another.

The deviance they engage in...self-abasing behavior, self-labeling

behavior, and powerlessness competitions sprinkled with a fair bit of

aberrant drinking (by that I mean drinking but claiming abstinence to

the group). Definitely not the norms of the greater American Society!