title: Measuring substance abuse program treatment orientations: the Drug and Alcohol Program Treatment Inventory.
abstract: Assessment of therapeutic orientation is a significant problem in substance abuse program evaluation. This study reports the initial results of a new approach to measuring treatment orientation through a self-report survey that focuses on distinctive features of substance abuse treatment orientations. The Drug and Alcohol Program Treatment Inventory (DAPTI) assesses treatment goals and activities specific to eight orientations: AA/12 Step, Therapeutic Community, Cognitive-Behavioral, Insight/Psychodynamic, Rehabilitation, Dual Diagnosis, Medical and Marital/Family Systems. We present findings from a nationwide assessment of 327 Veterans Administration (VA) Substance Abuse treatment programs that demonstrate promising subscale internal consistency, discriminant validity, and concurrent validity. In addition, the DAPTI distinguishes between programs with independently verified orientations and between inpatient, extended care, outpatient, and methadone maintenance programs. The DAPTI may be helpful in systematically assessing differences in treatment orientations between different types of programs, such as inpatient, community residential, and outpatient care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Palo Alto, CA, USA.
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Swindle
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Peterson
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Paradise
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Moos
mesh_terms: D000437:Alcoholism / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000639:trends; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005544:Forecasting; D006291:Health Policy / Q000639:trends*; D006302:Health Services Research / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs; D008691:Methadone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000639:trends; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000639:trends; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D013287:Illicit Drugs; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs; D008691:Methadone