Protocol: Personality assessment as a support for referral and case-work in treatment for substance use disorders (PASRC-study).
BACKGROUND
Assessment of co-morbid personality disorders in substance use disorders may lead to important insights concerning individual patients. However, little is known about the potential value of routine personality disorder assessment in a clinical context.


METHODS
Patients are adults with past-year substance dependence seeking treatment at a centralized intake unit for substance abusers in the City of Copenhagen. A randomized controlled trial of assessment of personality disorders and individual feedback vs. a general life situation interview. Patients are followed at 3 and 6 months post-treatment


CONCLUSIONS
If routine personality assessment improves outcomes of substance abuse treatment, the clinical implication is to increase the use of personality disorder assessment in substance abuse treatment settings.


BACKGROUND
Current controlled trials ISRCTN39851689.
Hesse
Morten
M
University of Aarhus, Centre for Alcohol and Drug Research, Købmagergade 26E, 1150 Copenhagen C, Denmark. mh@crf.au.dk
Pedersen
Mads K
MK
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003718:Denmark; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D007802:Language; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D018579:Patient Selection; D010551:Personality; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*