Toward a Phenomenological Assessment of Values in Alcohol Misuse

Introduction: Alcohol misuse emerges from a complex range of psychopathological experiences and personal and cultural values. For this reason, understanding the reasons why a person seeks treatment is crucial to effective care. This study aimed to identify the values which guide the decision-making process of persons seeking voluntary hospitalization for treatment for alcohol misuse, as well as the values of significant others. Methods: A phenomenological investigation was conducted through interviews with 25 individuals (and family members) who had voluntarily admitted themselves to a hospital in São Paulo, Brazil, with the objective of maintaining abstinence from alcohol dependence. Results: The main factors that determined the treatment-seeking decision were damage to social relationships and fear of illness and deterioration of the physical condition; the factors related to treatment expectations were restoring personality and awareness of morbidity; and the single factor considered most important to the success of the treatment was willpower. Conclusions: The results of this study contribute to developing strategies for bringing care closer to the patient’s perspective of the disease and encourage their active participation in the formulation of care.