title: Implicit identification with drug and alcohol use predicts retention in residential rehabilitation programs.
abstract: Research has identified numerous factors associated with successful treatment in alcohol and drug rehabilitation programs, yet treatment completion rates are often low and subsequent relapse rates very high. We propose that people's implicit identification with drugs and alcohol may be an additional factor that impacts their ability to complete abstinence-based rehabilitation programs. In the current research, we measured implicit identification with drugs and alcohol using the Implicit Association Test (Greenwald, McGhee, & Schwartz, 1998) among 137 members of a residential rehabilitation program for drugs and alcohol (104 men; mean age = 35 years old, 47 of whom were court-ordered to attend). Implicit identification with drugs and alcohol was measured within 1 week of arrival and again 3 weeks later, prior to the onset of the treatment phase of the program. Duration in rehabilitation was assessed 1 year later. Consistent with predictions, implicit identification with drugs and alcohol predicted the duration that people remained in residential rehabilitation even though a self-report measure of identification with drugs and alcohol did not. These results suggest that implicit identification with drugs and alcohol might be an important predictor of treatment outcomes, even among those with serious problems with drug and alcohol use. (PsycINFO Database Record
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology.
authors.forename: Nathan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Wolff
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology.
authors.forename: Courtney
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: von Hippel
authors.affiliation: Centre for Social Research in Health, University of New South Wales.
authors.forename: Loren
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Brener
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology.
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: von Hippel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000523:psychology*; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D000438:Alcohols; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D011613:Psychotherapy; D012112:Residential Facilities; D012114:Residential Treatment; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000438:Alcohols