title: Planned versus actual duration of drug abuse treatment. Reconciling observational and experimental evidence.
abstract: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the associations of planned versus actual duration of drug abuse treatment with psychosocial outcomes and drug use at follow-up. A randomized trial was conducted in a modified therapeutic community in which 444 clients were assigned to programs with planned durations of either 3 or 6 months. Outcomes were psychosocial measures assessing changes in mood and in stage of behavior change between admission and exit and return to drug use and patterns of use 2 to 6 months after exit. Planned duration was not associated with any of the outcomes. A longer actual length of stay was, however, associated with greater improvements in the mood variables; lower rates of drug use at follow-up; and, among those using drugs at follow-up, a longer time from exit to first drug use. Intention-to-treat analyses supported these results. Randomized controlled trials are needed to distinguish the effects of planned duration and actual length of stay.
authors: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors: J
authors: J
authors: McCusker
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Stoddard
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Frost
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Zorn
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015897:Comorbidity; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D010352:Patient Dropouts; D018579:Patient Selection; D011379:Prognosis; D011897:Random Allocation; D012008:Recurrence; D012107:Research Design; D012649:Self Concept; D016320:Substance Abuse Treatment Centers; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D013808:Therapeutic Community; D016896:Treatment Outcome