Are members of mutual aid groups better equipped for addiction recovery? European cross-sectional study into recovery capital, social networks, and commitment to sobriety

An increasing body of evidence shows that informal mutual aid groups benefit those in addiction recovery. However, attention for mutual aid groups in practice and policy varies internationally and is only recently emerging in continental Europe. Existing evidence is mostly limited to studies of Alcoholics Anonymous groups in the United States. The aim of this cross-sectional study is to examine the relationship between membership of a variety of mutual aid groups and recovery capital, participation in social networks, and commitment to sobriety for individuals in drug addiction recovery (N ¼ 367), living in the UK, the Netherlands, and Belgium. A convenience sample of participants completed an extensive assessment about their recovery experiences. Sixty-nine percent of participants reported lifetime (ever) membership of different mutual aid groups. Analyses reveal that membership of mutual aid groups is strongly associated with more participation and (self-reported) changes in social networks, greater levels of recovery capital, and a stronger commitment to sobriety. The findings suggest that participation in mutual aid groups may support addiction recovery through multiple mechanisms of change in favor of recovery. These findings highlight how mutual aid support may complement formal addiction treatment.National Institute of Health Researc

The effects of crisis plans for patients with psychotic and bipolar disorders: A randomised controlled trial

Background: Crises and (involuntary) admissions have a strong impact on patients and their caregivers. In some countries, including the Netherlands, the number of crises and (involuntary) admissions have increased in the last years. There is also a lack of effective interventions to prevent their occurrence. Previous research has shown that a form of psychiatric advance statement - joint crisis plan - may prevent involuntary admissions, but another study showed no significant results for another form. The question remains which form of psychiatric advance statement may help to prevent crisis situations. This study examines the effects of two other psychiatric advance statements. The first is created by the patient with help from a patient's advocate (Patient Advocate Crisis Plan: PACP) and the second with the help of a clinician only (Clinician facilitated Crisis Plan: CCP). We investigate whether patients with a PACP or CCP show fewer emergency visits and (involuntary) admissions as compared to patients without a psychiatric advance statement. Furthermore, this study seeks to identify possible mechanisms responsible for the effects of a PACP or a CCP. Methods/Design: This study is a randomised controlled trial with two intervention groups and one control condition. Both interventions consist of a crisis plan, facilitated through the patient's advocate or the clinician respectively. Outpatients with psychotic or bipolar disorders, who experienced at least one psychiatric crisis during the previous two years, are randomly allocated to one of the three groups. Primary outcomes are the number of emergency (after hour) visits, (involuntary) admissions and the length of stay in hospital. Secondary outcomes include psychosocial fun

Centrale Registratie Medische Kleuterdagverblijven en -Kindertehuizen

Deze registratie is in 1998 gestopt in verband met wettelijke verplichtingen en opgevolgd door ''Zorgis, zorginfo''. Gegevens over de gezondheidstoestand van opgenomen kinderen in Medische Kleuterdagverblijven (MKD-en) en Medische Kindertehuizen (MKT-en), en gegevens over de zorgconsumptie

GGZ databank

Deze dataverzameling is met ingang van 2009 gestopt. In de GGZ databank zijn opgenomen: DIS-GGZ gegevens van de leden van GGZ Nederland die hiervoor schriftelijk toestemming hebben gegeven; en DigiMV-gegevens van de leden van GGZ Nederland die hiervoor schriftelijk toestemming hebben gegeven

Zorginformatiesysteem

Deze gegevensverzameling is in 2006 gestopt. Per cliënt worden gegevens met betrekking tot inschrijving, wachttijden, diagnose/problematiek, juridische status en zorgverlening vastgelegd. De behoeften aan en het gebruik van geestelijke gezondheidszorg zijn in Zorgis longitudinaal te volgen. Het betreft een landelijke zorginformatiesysteem van GGZ Nederland