Factors Associated with Mental Health Clinicians' Referrals to 12-Step Groups

Abstract

As substance use and mental illness services are increasingly integrated, mental health professionals are presented with opportunities to refer greater numbers of dually diagnosed clients to 12-Step groups. This study examined the relationships among clinicians’ 12-Step experiences, attitudes, and referral practices in 6 mental health clinics in New York, New York. A path analysis model showed that greater interest in learning about 12-Step groups directly predicted 12-Step referral practices and that 12-Step interest was predicted by clinicians’ perception of the helpfulness of 12-Step groups and the severity of their patients’ problems with substance abuse. Clinicians’ responses to open-ended questions supported this model. Didactic and experiential education for clinicians in substance abuse and mutual aid would likely increase patient referrals to 12-Step groups.

KEYWORDS:

• 12-Step
• referrals
• dual-diagnosis
• mental health
• clinician
• mutual-aid

Acknowledgments

This study was funded by National Institutes of Health grant 5R01 DA023119. The authors wish to thank the staff who participated in this study.