Methodological and clinical challenges in evaluating treatment outcome of substance-related disorders and comorbidity.
OBJECTIVE
To review the steps required to develop an outcome evaluation package and to report on the 12-month outcome of an integrated day program.


METHODS
Based on the identification of salient outcome predictors, standardized instruments were selected. A cohort of 78 patients was assessed at the time of admission to the program, at discharge, and 3, 6, and 12 months afterward.


RESULTS
Improvements were sustained over 1 year in all areas including treatment needs, quality of life, and readiness to change.


CONCLUSIONS
The gap between the "cultures" of treatment and research must be narrowed. Following evidence of a program's general effectiveness through outcome monitoring, a randomized control design is optimal for specific interventions. The optimal length of follow-up depends on the perceived confounds.
el-Guebaly
N
N
Department of Psychiatry, University of Calgary, Alberta.
Hodgins
D C
DC
Armstrong
S
S
Addington
J
J
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001294:Attitude to Health; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D017831:Diagnosis, Dual (Psychiatry); D016002:Discriminant Analysis; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D020380:Needs Assessment; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000379:methods*; D018802:Patient-Centered Care / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D015397:Program Evaluation / Q000379:methods*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012107:Research Design; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012917:Social Adjustment; D016320:Substance Abuse Treatment Centers / Q000592:standards*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*