Despite Therapists' Misgivings, AA and Other Mutual-Help Groups Are Shown Effective

Among mental health professionals, there is some skepticism about the value of AA and other groups to many types of patients. Therapists express concern that atheist or highly religious people may have difficulty with the religious aspects of AA and other groups. They also express concern that patients being treated for mental illnesses may face a kind of backlash from other participants because they are taking medications.

A 3-Year Study of Addiction Mutual-help Group Participation Following Intensive Outpatient Treatment performed by the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation and published in the August edition of Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research has found that "Alcoholics Anonymous and other mutual-help groups seem to help people recover from alcoholism no matter what their religious beliefs and gender, or whether or not they have mental disorders."

ABSTRACT: A 3-Year Study of Addiction Mutual-help Group Participation Following Intensive Outpatient Treatment