Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Support, Mutual Aid and Recovery from Dual Diagnosis

  • Published:
Community Mental Health Journal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Recovery from substance abuse and mental health disorders (dual-diagnosis) requires time, hard work and a broad array of coping skills. Empirical evidence has demonstrated the buffering role of social support in stressful situations. This paper investigates the associations among social support (including dual-recovery mutual aid), recovery status and personal well-being in dually-diagnosed individuals (N = 310) using cross-sectional self-report data. Persons with higher levels of support and greater participation in dual-recovery mutual aid reported less substance use and mental health distress and higher levels of well-being. Participation in mutual aid was indirectly associated with recovery through perceived levels of support. The association between mutual aid and recovery held for dual-recovery groups but not for traditional, single-focus self-help groups. The important role of specialized mutual aid groups in the dual recovery process is discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

REFERENCES

  • Alcoholics Anonymous. Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How Many Thousands of Men and Women Have Recovered from Alcoholism. (3rd ed.). NY: Alcoholics Anonymous World Services Inc., 1976.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baxter, E. and Diehl, S. (1998) Emotional stages: Consumers and family members recovering from the trauma of mental illness. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal, 21(4), 349-355.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beard, M.L. (1992). Social networks. Psychosocial Rehabilitation Journal, 16, 111-116.

    Google Scholar 

  • Berkman, L.F. (1985) The relationship of social networks and social support to morbidity and mortality. In S. Cohen and S. Syme (Eds.) Social Support and Health. Orlando, FL: Academic Press, pp. 241-262.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brennan, P.L. and Moos, R.H. Life stressors, social resources, and late-life problem drinking. Psychology and Aging, 5, 491-501, 1990.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brugha, T. S., Bebbington, P.E., Stretch, D., & MacCarthy, B. (1997). Predicting the short-term outcome of first episodes and recurrences of clinical depression: A prospective study of life events, difficulties and social support networks. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 58(7), 298-306.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carpinello, S.E. and Knight, E. L. (1991) A Qualitative Study of the Perceptions of the Meaning of Self-Help by Self-Help Group Leaders, Members, and Significant Others. New York State Office of Mental Health Bureau of Evaluation and Services Research.

  • Chamberlin, J. (1990). The ex-patients movement: Where we've been and where we're going. Journal of Mind and Behavior, 11, 323-336.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cobb, S. (1976) Social support as a moderator of life stress. Psychosomatic Medicine, 38(5), 300-314.

    Google Scholar 

  • Devine, J., Brody, C. and Wright, J. Evaluating and alcohol and drug program for the homeless: An econometric approach. Evaluation and Program Planning, 20, 205-215.

  • El-Bassel, N., Duan-Rung, C. and Cooper, D. (1998) Social support and social network profiles among women in methadone. Social Service Review, 379-401.

  • Ellison, C. W. (1983) Spiritual well-being. Conceptualization and measurement. Journal of Psychology and Theology, 11(4), 330-340.

    Google Scholar 

  • Emrick, C.D., Tonigan, J.S., Montgomery, H., and Little, L. (1993). Alcoholics Anonymous: What Is Currently Known? In: McCrady, B. and Miller, W. R. (Eds.) Research on Alcoholics Anonymous: Opportunities and Alternatives, pp. 41-78.

  • Endicott, J., Nee, J., Harrison, W. and Blumenthal, R. (1993). Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire: A new measure. Psychopharmacology Bulletin, 29, 321-326.

    Google Scholar 

  • Flaherty, J. A., Gaviria, F. M., Black, E. M., Altman, E. and Mitchell, T. (1983) The role of social support in the functioning of patients with unipolar depression. Amercian Journal of Psychiatry, 140, 473-476.

    Google Scholar 

  • Galanter, M. (1988). Zealous self-help groups as adjuncts to psychiatric treatment: A study of Recovery, Inc. American Journal of Psychiatry, 145, 1248-1272.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goering, P., Durbing, J., Foster, R., Boyles S., Babiak, T., and Lancee, B. (1992). Social networks of residents in supportive housing. Community Mental Health Journal, 28(3), 199-214.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goldfarb, L., Galanter, M., McDowell, D., Lifshutz, H. and Dermatis, H. (1996). Medical students' and patients' attitudes toward religion and spirituality in the recovery process. American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, 22(4), 549-561.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gordon, A. and Zrull, M. (1991). Social networks and recovery: One year after inpatient treatment. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 8, 141-152.

    Google Scholar 

  • Greenblatt, M., Becerra, R. M., and Serafetinides, E. (1982). Social networks and mental health: An overview. Amercian Journal of Psychiatry, 139, 977-984.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hawkins, J. and Fraser, M. (1987). The social network of drug abusers before and after treatment. International Journal of the Addictions, 22(4), 343-355.

    Google Scholar 

  • Haywood, T.W., Kravitz, H., Grossman, L., Cavanaugh, J.L., Davis, J. M. and Lewis, D.A. (1995). Predicting the “revolving door” phenomenon among patients with schizophrenic, schizoaffective and affective disorders. American Journal of Psychiatry, 152, 856-861.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoffman, N.G., Harrison, P.A., and Belile, C.A. Alcoholics Anonymous after treatment: Attendance and abstinence. International Journal of the Addictions, 18, 311-318, 1983.

    Google Scholar 

  • Humphreys, K. and Moos. R. (1996). Reduced substance abuse-related health care costs among voluntary participants of Alcoholics Anonymous. Psychiatric Services, 47, 709-713.

    Google Scholar 

  • Humphreys, K., Huebsch, P., Finney, J., and Moos, R. (1999) A comparative evaluation of substance abuse treatment: V. Substance abuse treatment can enhance the effectiveness of self-help groups. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, 23(3), 558-563.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kelly, J., Murphy, G., Bahr, G., Kalichman, M. Morgan, M. Stevenson, L., Koob, J., Brasfield, T. and Bernstein, B. (1993). Outcome of cognitive-behavioral and support group brief therapies for depressed, HIV infected persons. American Journal of Psychiatry, 150, 1679-1686.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kessler, R.C. (1995) The national comorbidity survey: Preliminary results and future directions. International Journal of Methods in Psychiatric Research, 5, 139-151.

    Google Scholar 

  • Khantzian, E.J. and Mack, J.E. (1994). How AA works and why it's important for clinicians to understand. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 11 (2), 77-92.

    Google Scholar 

  • Klein, A., Cnaan, R., and Whitecraft, J. (1998). Significance of peer social support with duallydiagnosed clients: Findings from a pilot study. Research on Social Work Practice, 8(5), 529-551.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kyrouz, E. and Humphreys, K. (1997). A review of research on the effectiveness of self-help mutual aid groups. The Mental Health Network.

  • Laudet, A., Magura, S., Vogel, H., & Knight, E. (in press). Recovery challenges among duallydiagnosed individuals. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment.

  • Lin, N. Conceptualizing social support. In N. Lin, A. Dean and W. Ensel (Eds.) Social Support, Life Events and Depression. New York: Academic Press, pp. 17-30.

  • Markowitz, F., DeMasi, M., Carpinello, S., Knight, E.,Videka-Sherman, L. and Sofka, C. (1996). The role of self help in the recovery process. Paper presented at the 6th Annual National Conference on State Mental Health Agency Services Research and Program Evaluation, Arlington, VA.

  • McCrady, B.S., and Miller, WR. Research on Alcoholics Anonymous. Alcohol Research Documentation, Inc., 1993.

  • McDowell, D., Galanter, M., Goldfarb, L. and Lifshutz, H. (1996) Spirituality and the treatment of the dually-diagnosed: An investigation of patient and staff attitudes. Journal of Addictive Diseases, 15(2), 55-68.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mermelstein, R., Cohen, S., Lichentenstein, E., Baer, J., and Karmack, T. (1986). Social support and smoking cessation and maintenance. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 54, 447-453.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moos, R., Finney, J., Ouimette, P. C. and Suchinsky, R. (1999). A comparative evaluation of substance abuse treatment: I. treatment orientation, amount of care, and 1-year outcomes. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, 23(3), 529-536.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moos, R.H., Finney, J., and Maude-Griffin, P. (1993). The Social Climate of Self-Help and Mutual Support Groups: Assessing Group Implementation, Process, and Outcome. In: McCrady, B. and Miller, W. R. (Eds.) Research on Alcoholics Anonymous: Opportunities and Alternatives, pp. 251-276.

  • Nelson, G., Hall, G.B., Squire, D., and Walsh-Bowers, R. (1992). Social network transactions of psychiatric patients. Social Science and Medicine, 34, pp. 433-445.

    Google Scholar 

  • New York State Office of Mental Health (1993). Commissioner's Report.

  • Noordsy, D., Schwab, B., Fox, L., and Drake, R. (1996). The role of self-help programs in the rehabilitation process of persons with severe mental illness and substance use disorders. Community Mental Health Journal, 32(1), 71-81.

    Google Scholar 

  • O'Reilly, P. (1998). Methodological issues in social support and social network research. Social Science and Medicine, 26(8), 863-873.

    Google Scholar 

  • Peyrot, M. (1985). Narcotics Anonymous: Its history, structure, and approach. Int J Addict, 20(10), 1509-1522.

    Google Scholar 

  • Regier, D.A., Farmer, M.E., Rae, D.S., Locke, B.Z., Keith, S.J., Judd, L.L., and Goodwin, F.K. (1990) Comorbidity of mental disorders with alcohol and other drug abuse. JAMA, 264, 2511-2518.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosenfield, A., and Wenzel, S. (1997) Social networks and chronic mental illness: A test of four perspectives. Social Problems, 44(2), 200-216.

    Google Scholar 

  • Taylor, S.E., and Aspinwall, L.G.(1996) Mediating and Moderating Processes in Psychosocial Stress. In: Kaplan, H.B. (Ed.) Psychosocial Stress. Academic Press, New York, pp. 71-110.

    Google Scholar 

  • Timko, C. and Moos, R.H. (1998). Outcomes of the treatment climate in psychiatric and substance abuse program. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 54(8), 1137-1150.

    Google Scholar 

  • Timko, C., Finney, J., Moos, R. and Moos, B. (1995). Short-term treatment careers and outcome of previously untreated alcoholics. Journal of Studies on Alcoholism, 56, 597-610.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vaillant, G. E. (1983). The Natural History of Alcoholism. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Viinamaeki, H., Niskanen, L., Jaeaeskelaeinen, J. and Antikainen, R. (1996). Factors predicting psychosocial recovery in psychiatric patients. Acta Psychiatrica Scandin., 94(5), 365-371.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vogel, H. S., Knight, E., Laudet, A. B. and Magura, S. (1998). Double Trouble in Recovery: Self-help for the dually-diagnosed. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal, 21(4), 356-364.

    Google Scholar 

  • Walsh, D. Hingson, R. and Merrigan, D. (1991). A randomized trial of treatment options for alcoholabusing workers. The New England Journal of Medicine, 325(11), 775-782.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weiss, R., Najavits, L., Greenfield, S., Soto, J. Shaw, S. & Wyner, D. (1998). Validity of substance use self-reports in dually-diagnosed outpatients. American Journal of Psychiatry, 155(1), 127-128.

    Google Scholar 

  • White, B. J. and Madara, E. J (1998). Self-help sourcebook online. American Self-help Clearing House. Mental Health Net.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Treatment and Services Research, National Development and Research Institutes, Inc, 2 World Trade Center, New York, NY, 10048

    Alexandre B. Laudet

  2. Institute for Treatment and Services Research, National Development and Research Institutes, Inc., USA

    Stephen Magura

  3. Mental Health Empowerment Project, Inc., USA

    Howard S. Vogel & Edward Knight

Authors
  1. Alexandre B. Laudet
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Stephen Magura
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Howard S. Vogel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Edward Knight
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Laudet, A.B., Magura, S., Vogel, H.S. et al. Support, Mutual Aid and Recovery from Dual Diagnosis. Community Ment Health J 36, 457–476 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1001982829359

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1001982829359

Keywords

Search

Navigation