Maintenance factors of recovery from alcohol dependence in treated and untreated individuals

Background: Research on natural recovery from alcohol dependence has focused mainly on triggering mechanisms of the remission process. Only a few studies have considered maintenance factors of natural recovery. Methods: In the present study, 93 natural remitters and 42 self-help group participants were compared. Both groups remitted from alcohol dependence according to DSM-IV criteria. Several alcohol-related variables and maintenance factors of the remission process were assessed in a personal interview by using standardized questionnaires. Results: Logistic regression analysis that focused on maintenance factors showed that, independent from direct self-help group context, self-help group attendees informed more individuals about their former alcohol problems and sought social support more often as a coping strategy to deal with craving. No further group differences could be identified. Conclusions: Self-help group participants revealed a higher social engagement to maintain their recovery. Besides this major difference, data support the assumption that more commonalities than differences exist within successful recoveries from alcohol dependence, independent of help-seeking status.