A brief treatment engagement intervention for individuals with co-occurring mental illness and substance use disorders: results of a randomized clinical trial.
Study objectives were to evaluate a brief intervention designed to facilitate outpatient engagement following an inpatient psychiatric stay for individuals with mental illness and substance use. A total of 102 veterans were randomly assigned to one of two conditions: (1) Time Limited Care-Coordination (TLC), an eight-week co-occurring disorders intervention or (2) a matched attention (MA) control condition in the form of health education sessions. Both groups also received treatment as usual in inpatient and outpatient settings. Sixty-nine percent of TLC participants attended an outpatient appointment within 14 days of discharge, compared to only 33% of MA participants (P < 0.01). TLC participants were also more likely to be engaged in outpatient services at the end of the intervention period (44 vs. 22%, P < 0.01). This study provided evidence that an eight-week intervention could improve treatment engagement. Research is currently underway to examine impact of TLC intervention beyond the 8 week study period.
Smelson
David
D
Center for Health, Quality, Outcomes and Economic Research, Edith Norse Rogers VA Medical Center, 200 Springs Road, Bedford, MA 01730, USA. david.smelson@va.gov
Kalman
David
D
Losonczy
Miklos F
MF
Kline
Anna
A
Sambamoorthi
Usha
U
Hill
Lauren St
LS
Castles-Fonseca
Kathy
K
Ziedonis
Douglas
D
D000328:Adult; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders; D008875:Middle Aged; D010045:Outpatients; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011614:Psychotherapy, Brief; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders