Depressive symptoms, friend and partner relationship quality, and posttreatment abstinence.
OBJECTIVE
This study employed a prospective design to examine the role of friend and partner relationship quality 1 year following substance use disorder treatment in the association between depressive symptoms at discharge from treatment and abstinence from substance use 2 years after treatment.


METHODS
The sample consisted of 1,453 male veterans who used alcohol and at least one other substance in the 3 months before treatment admission, who completed treatment, and who were abstinent from substances during the 2 weeks before discharge.


RESULTS
Fewer depressive symptoms at treatment discharge predicted better relationship quality with friends and a partner at 1-year follow-up, as well as abstinence from substance use at 2-year follow-up. Furthermore, friend and partner relationship quality at 1 year predicted abstinence from substance use at 2 years. Friend relationship quality at 1 year mediated part of the association between fewer depressive symptoms at treatment discharge and abstinence at 2-year follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
A stronger focus in treatment on reducing depressive symptoms and enhancing the quality of patients' relationships with their friends and partner may increase the likelihood of long-term abstinence.
Center for Developmental Science, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA. lmckee@clarku.edu
Laura G
LG
McKee
Marcel O
MO
Bonn-Miller
Rudolf H
RH
Moos
D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications* / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D033062:Friends; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008393:Marriage; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012008:Recurrence; D012747:Sexual Partners; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy; D013695:Temperance / Q000523:psychology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014728:Veterans