title: Psychiatric Symptom Improvement in Women Following Group Substance Abuse Treatment: Results from the Women's Recovery Group Study.
abstract: The Women's Recovery Group study was a Stage I randomized clinical trial comparing a new manual-based group treatment for women with substance use disorders with Group Drug Counseling. Data from this study were examined to determine whether co-occurring symptoms of depression and anxiety would improve with treatment and whether these improvements would demonstrate durability over the follow-up period. The sample consisted of 36 women (29 WRG, 7 GDC) who were administered self-report and clinician-rated measures of anxiety, depression, and general psychiatric symptoms. Although there were no group differences in psychiatric symptom improvement, analyses demonstrated significant within-subject improvement in depression, anxiety, and general psychiatric symptoms. Symptom reduction was not mediated by changes in substance use. This study demonstrated significant psychiatric symptom reduction that remained durable through 6 month follow-up for women receiving group therapy focused on substance abuse relapse prevention. Reduction in psychiatric symptoms may be an additional benefit of substance abuse group therapy for women.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Boston University.
authors.forename: R Kathryn
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: McHugh
authors.forename: Shelly F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Greenfield