Issues: Self-change from alcohol and drug use problems is increasingly acknowledged in research. Despite the growing number of published studies, the most recent broad review of this dispersed field dates back to 2010. The present review narratively synthesises key findings from empirical studies and critically identifies research gaps and directions for further research.
Approach: Following the PRISMA guidelines for scoping reviews, a systematic search was conducted in multiple scientific databases, resulting in the identification of 56 relevant articles with explicit empirical results on self-change.
Key findings: The scoping review presents findings related to: (i) methods and definitions used; (ii) the prevalence of self-change; (iii) indicators of self-change; (iv) the process of self-change; and (v) population views on self-change.
Conclusion: The review highlights the significant growth in research on self-change considering key themes as well as the need for a relational and time-bound approach to self-change in research and practice.
Keywords: mental health recovery; natural recovery; recovery capital; scoping review; substance-related disorders.
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