title: Engagement and retention in outpatient alcoholism treatment for women.
abstract: Reviews of the dropout literature note significant attrition from addiction treatment. However, consistent predictors have not been identified and few studies have examined factors related to retention and engagement for women in gender-specific treatment. The current study consisted of 102 women and their partners randomized to individual or couples outpatient alcoholism treatment. Women attended more treatment sessions if they were assigned to individual treatment, older, had fewer symptoms of alcohol dependence, had more satisfying marital relationships, had spouses who drank, and had matched preference for treatment condition. Women were more engaged in treatment (ie, completed more assigned homework) if they had fewer children at home, fewer alcohol dependence symptoms, later age of onset of alcohol diagnosis, more satisfying marital relationships, and spouses who accepted or encouraged their drinking. Results highlight important associations of treatment and relationship variables with treatment retention and engagement.
authors.affiliation: Center of Alcohol Studies, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854-8001, USA. fgraff@eden.rutgers.edu
authors.forename: Fiona S
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Graff
authors.forename: Thomas J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Morgan
authors.forename: Elizabeth E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Epstein
authors.forename: Barbara S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: McCrady
authors.forename: Sharon M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Cook
authors.forename: Noelle K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.forename: Shalonda
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kelly
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D002648:Child; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D004645:Empathy; D005195:Family Relations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008393:Marriage / Q000523:psychology; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012153:Retention, Psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires