title: Performance measures for outpatient substance abuse services: group versus individual counseling.
abstract: Most substance abuse treatment programs employ various models of group therapy. Empirical evidence, however, of the benefits of group vs. individual treatment is scarce. This study examined the impact of type of treatment, defined as individual or group counseling, on treatment performance, as measured by treatment completion and goal achievement. Data on clients treated in publicly funded substance abuse outpatient treatment programs were drawn from the Massachusetts Substance Abuse Information System. A larger proportion of group to individual therapy was strongly and positively associated with increased likelihood for improved measures of treatment performance. State data systems can provide useful insights into the development and application of performance measurement.
authors.affiliation: Health and Addictions Research, Inc., 100 Boylston St., Ste. 1075, Boston, MA 02116, USA. lpanas@har.org
authors.forename: Lee
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Panas
authors.forename: Yael
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Caspi
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fournier
authors.forename: Dennis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: McCarty
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008404:Massachusetts; D008875:Middle Aged; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care / Q000379:methods*; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D016896:Treatment Outcome