title: "The Gold Standard" and Related Considerations for a Maturing Science of Substance Abuse Treatment. Therapeutic Communities; A Case in Point.
abstract: The randomized control trial (RCT) is commonly celebrated as the "Gold Standard" of research designs. However, such evidentiary distinctions contain serious implications for the scientific acceptance, funding, and public perception of various treatments for substance abuse. This issue and related considerations are briefly discussed from the perspective of therapeutic community treatment and research.
authors.affiliation: a Behavioral Science Training Program, National Development and Research Institutes , New York , New York , USA.|b Department of Psychiatry , New York University School of Medicine , New York , New York , USA.
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: De Leon
mesh_terms: D055317:Evidence-Based Practice; D006801:Humans; D018579:Patient Selection; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012107:Research Design; D015983:Selection Bias; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D013808:Therapeutic Community
keywords: evidence, ideology, Gold Standard, maturation, therapeutic communities, treatment effectiveness