Effectiveness of high versus low structure individual counseling for substance abuse.
Outcomes during treatment were compared for inner-city drug-dependent individuals randomly assigned to high-structure, behaviorally-oriented (HSB) or to low-structure, facilitative (LSF) individual counseling. No group differences were found for symptom reduction, patient and counselor ratings of benefit, retention, or drug free urines. However, the more depressed and "helpless" clients showed significantly better control of substance use in HSB counseling, while the less depressed and helpless patients realized better control in LSF treatment. These results suggest that outcomes might be improved by matching patients to high- and low-structure counseling based on their pretreatment levels of depression and learned helplessness.
Gottheil
Edward
E
Department of Psychiatry & Human Behavior, Division of Substance Abuse Programs, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pa., USA. edward.gottheil@mail.tju.edu
Thornton
Charles
C
Weinstein
Stephen
S
D000328:Adult; D003376:Counseling / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D016896:Treatment Outcome