A retrospective study of the concept of spirituality as understood by recovering individuals

Author(s): Georgi, J., Wilson, W. H., Mathew, V. G.

Journal/Book: J Subst Abuse Treat. 1996; 13: The Boulevard, Langford Lane, Kidlington, Oxford, England OX5 1GB. Pergamon-Elsevier Science Ltd. 67-73.

Abstract: In 62 individuals recovering from substance abuse, materialism and spiritualism and cognitive patterns were quantified, before (retrospectively) and after recovery with the Mathew Materialism Spiritualism Scale (MMSS) and a Cognitive Patterns Questionnaire (CPQ). MMSS was also administered once to 61 general controls. Recovering individuals showed highly significant prerecovery to postrecovery increases in spirituality on most subscales of MMSS and changes in cognitive patterns. Sixteen controls who met the criteria for alcoholism on the Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test (MAST-positive) were separated from the others. Prerecovery MMSS scores did nor differentiate the recovering individuals from MAST-positive controls. However, the prerecovery MMSS scores obtained by recovering individuals were significantly lower than the scores obtained by the MAST-negative controls. On the other hand, after recovery, recovering individuals showed higher MMSS spirituality scores in comparison to MAST-positive controls. The only MMSS item that differentiated recovering individuals after recovery from MAST-negative controls was mysticism with the recovering group obtaining higher scores.

Note: Article RJ Mathew, Duke Univ, Med Ctr, Dept Psychiat, Box 3972, Durham, NC 27710 USA

Keyword(s): materialism; spiritualism; Alcoholics Anonymous; recovery; substance abuse; ALCOHOLISM SCREENING-TEST; POPULATION; PURPOSE; SCALE; LIFE

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