Alcoholic Psychologists: Routes to Recovery

The authors interviewed abstinent alcoholic psychologists with a structured interview previously used in studies of other alcoholic professionals. Histories and experiences of the psychologists closely resembled those of other professionals. Like the other professionals, psychologists had exhibited relatively advanced, visible signs of alcoholism, but professional sanctions were rare and almost never combined with effective intervention. Although a majority had received professional treatment, the treatment was usually inappropriate or ineffective. Most Ss had recovered or attained sobriety outside of formal intervention programs or professional therapy or treatment. Recovery depended excessively on happenstance events and self-diagnosis.