Improved psychological status in a modified therapeutic community for homeless MICA men.
An adaptation of the drug-free therapeutic community (TC) model to homeless men with comorbid mental illness and chemical addiction (MICA) was evaluated with respect to change in psychological status over the course of a six-month residential treatment. Psychological status was assessed by: the Symptom Checklist-90-R (SCL90-R), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Shortened Manifest Anxiety Scale (SMAS), and Tennessee Self-Concept Scale (TSCS). A total of 52 out of an original study cohort of 124 residents were followed in longitudinal analyses to treatment midpoint, with a subset of 34 assessed through treatment completion. Significant, widespread psychological improvements were found during both the first and second half of treatment; it would appear that distress reduction was ongoing throughout treatment, with intrapersonal preceding interpersonal relief. The premise of applying a socially-based treatment to this population is discussed in light of these findings.
Egelko
Susan
S
Department of Psychiatry, NYU School of Medicine, New York 10016, USA.
Galanter
Marc
M
Dermatis
Helen
H
Jurewicz
Eva
E
Jamison
Andrea
A
Dingle
Shannon
S
De Leon
George
G
D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D017831:Diagnosis, Dual (Psychiatry); D006703:Ill-Housed Persons / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009519:New York City; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012112:Residential Facilities; D012917:Social Adjustment; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D013808:Therapeutic Community; D014505:Urban Population