Abstract
BackgroundA person-centered substance use treatment component, the Natural Recovery Program, was developed. The Natural Recovery Program is comprised of small group therapy combined with pursuit of hobbies.MethodsThis was a pilot study of the program and was not randomized. A retrospective record review of 643 veterans in an inpatient mental health recovery and rehabilitation program was analyzed to determine if participants of Natural Recovery had a different rate of treatment completion than those who elected to participate in the core program alone. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted on: participation in the Natural Recovery Program; co-morbid psychiatric disorders; and legal, medical, and psychiatric issues.ResultsParticipation in Natural Recovery was significantly associated with successful treatment completion when analyzed by univariate analysis (p = 0.01). Other significant variables associated with successful completion included: no co-morbid psychiatric diagnosis, fewer prior suicide attempts, and no homelessness prior to admission. Binary logistic regression demonstrated that participation in Natural Recovery was associated with improved treatment completion, even when other variables were considered (p = 0.01). Treatment retention was longer for patients who participated in Natural Recovery, even if they did not complete treatment.ConclusionsThe Natural Recovery Program was associated with improved outcomes, as measured by treatment retention in the first 60 days and by treatment completion. Participants of Natural Recovery with co-morbid psychiatric disorders completed treatment at a higher rate than those with co-morbid psychiatric disorders who participated in the core program. Patients reported high satisfaction with the program. This program may be a valuable adjunct to residential treatment.
Highlights
A person-centered substance use treatment component, the Natural Recovery Program, was developed
Participants with combined co-morbid Axis I disorders who participated in Natural Recovery-Horticulture had a significantly higher treatment completion rate compared to those with combined co-morbid Axis I disorders in RRTP-CP (79% versus 65%; p = 0.02)
The Natural Recovery Program was associated with improved outcome as measured by higher rate of treatment retention in the first 60 days as well as during all stages of treatment, a higher rate of treatment completion, and high patient satisfaction
Summary
A person-centered substance use treatment component, the Natural Recovery Program, was developed. Residential treatment completion has been shown to be an important predictor of long-term positive outcomes, including both improved abstinence [1] and reduced readmission [2]. Patients who complete residential treatment benefit from decreased substance use, fewer legal problems or risky behaviors [3,4,5,6], lowered mortality [7], more employment [3,5], and reduced suicide rates [8]. Other investigators have shown that factors such as childhood neglect, higher severity of use, more intense treatment history [10,11], and more arrests prior to treatment [12] all are predictors of poor completion rates and often are associated with poor long-term outcomes. Programs that encourage treatment of dual disorders improve outcomes in patients with dual diagnosis [18,19]
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