title: Effectiveness of a therapeutic community treatment in Spain: a long-term follow-up study.
abstract: In this paper, the effectiveness of the treatment program developed by Proyecto Hombre ('Project Mankind') in Asturias, Spain, is evaluated. In a long-term follow-up (range from 73 days to 8 years) with a sample of 249 subjects, the results obtained by subjects completing the treatment (194) were compared with pre-treatment results and with those of the group that dropped out (55). The measurements used were relapses in illegal drugs, alcohol, changes in family situation, educational level, employment, criminal involvement and state of health. External validation of self-report measures given in the questionnaire was carried out. Findings support the effectiveness of the treatment in all measures and the validity of self-report items. Relapse rate in 'treatment-completed' group was 10.3%, whilst in the non-completers group it reached 63.6% (significant difference, p < 0.001). Relapses of non-completers were more severe, occurred sooner after leaving the program (they stayed abstinent for shorter periods) and lasted longer than those of subjects completing the treatment.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Psychology, University of Oviedo, Asturias, Spain. jrhermid@correo.uniovi.es
authors.forename: José-Ramón
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Fernández-Hermida
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Secades-Villa
authors.forename: José-Javier
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Fernández-Ludeña
authors.forename: Pedro-Antonio
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Marina-González
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D003415:Crime / Q000523:psychology; D004522:Educational Status; D004651:Employment; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010352:Patient Dropouts / Q000523:psychology; D015397:Program Evaluation; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D013030:Spain; D016320:Substance Abuse Treatment Centers; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D013808:Therapeutic Community; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome