Effectiveness of a national 'Minnesota Model' based residential treatment programme for alcohol dependence in Ireland: outcomes and predictors of outcome.

Abstract

The aims of this study were (a) to examine the effectiveness of an inpatient treatment programme for alcohol dependence based on the 'Minnesota Model' and (b) to examine potential predictors of outcomes from such treatment. Demographics and data relating to psychosocial functioning of a group of individuals who commenced treatment for alcohol dependence were gathered at the point of treatment entry. These individuals were then followed up 6 months after they were to complete their inpatient treatment to establish their alcohol-related outcomes. Outcomes from treatment were identified as an index of treatment effectiveness and the outcome data were analysed to determine whether any of the baseline variables could be used to predict outcomes from treatment. Of those who were contacted at 6-month follow-up, 81.5% had a 'good outcome'. This represented 66.7% of the total group who participated in the study. The only variable that was found to predict outcomes at 6-month follow-up was severity of alcohol dependence at treatment entry, with more severe alcohol problems associated with poorer outcomes. This study provides evidence of the potential for a Minnesota-based treatment programme to be effective in helping people with alcohol dependence to reduce the amount of alcohol they consume and sustain this reduction beyond the treatment period.