Psychopathology, treatment completion and 5 years outcome. A prospective study of drug abusers.
Two hundred Norwegian drug abusers who consecutively applied for treatment in a Phoenix-House-type of therapeutic community, were interviewed in intake and personally followed up, on average, 5 years after (response rate 79%). The year prior to follow-up, 20% had no/light use of substances and 56% heavy abuse, including the deceased (12.4%). Personality disorders and psychopathology at application did not directly predict either substance abuse problems nor level of social functioning, but were mainly related to the risk of death. Treatment completion was positively related to the 5-year outcome of social functioning, but not to substance abuse problems. Our findings indicate the need for more systematic training in how to control the use of substances in the Phoenix House model. One should also offer a more longstanding outpatient programme of social skills training, aiming at following these clients for years.
Ravndal
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Department of Behavioural Sciences in Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway.
Vaglum
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P
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009664:Norway; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012919:Social Behavior; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome