Measuring economic outcomes of alcohol treatment using the Economic Form 90.
OBJECTIVE
This article assesses the ability of the economic outcome measures in the Economic Form 90 to detect differences across levels of alcohol dependence as measured by the Alcohol Dependence Scale.


METHODS
We used baseline data from the Combining Medications and Behavioral Interventions (COMBINE) Study, a large, multisite clinical trial, to assess the extent to which the economic items on the Economic Form 90 instrument can detect differences across levels of alcohol dependence.


RESULTS
After adjusting for differences in demographic characteristics, the Economic Form 90 can detect significant differences across a range of dependence severity levels for the economic outcomes of inpatient medical care, emergency-department medical care, behavioral health care, being on parole or probation, and missed workdays, conditional on being employed. We did not detect significant differences across dependence severity for employment status, outpatient medical care, other criminal justice involvement, or motor vehicle accidents.


CONCLUSIONS
The Economic Form 90 can identify differences in many economic outcomes associated with differing levels of alcohol dependence. This suggests that the Economic Form 90 may be useful in assessing changes in economic outcomes that result from changes in alcohol dependence.
Bray
Jeremy W
JW
RTI International, 3040 Cornwallis Road, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709, USA. bray@rti.org
Zarkin
Gary A
GA
Miller
William R
WR
Mitra
Debanjali
D
Kivlahan
Daniel R
DR
Martin
Daniel J
DJ
Couper
David J
DJ
Cisler
Ron A
RA
D000041:Absenteeism; D000077443:Acamprosate; D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000191:economics; D000328:Adult; D000427:Alcohol Deterrents / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000145:classification / Q000191:economics* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000191:economics*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy / Q000191:economics; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003416:Criminal Law / Q000191:economics; D004651:Employment / Q000191:economics; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D017048:Health Care Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006295:Health Resources / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018803:Models, Economic; D009271:Naltrexone / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011330:Prisons / Q000191:economics; D013654:Taurine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States
D000427:Alcohol Deterrents; D013654:Taurine; D009271:Naltrexone; D000077443:Acamprosate