Treatment Setting and Outcomes of Patients With Co-Occurring Disorders

Abstract

This study examined the potential differential benefits for patients with co-occurring psychiatric and substance use disorders (SUDs) entering treatment at one of three types of treatment programs: dual-diagnosis, SUD, and psychiatric treatment programs. This quasiexperimental study compared 6-month substance use and psychiatric symptom outcomes of 257 adults with co-occurring substance use and psychiatric disorders who had sought treatment at one of four outpatient treatment programs that used group treatment as the main treatment modality: a dual diagnosis, a psychiatric, or one of two SUD treatment programs. At treatment initiation, patients received a structured diagnostic interview and a survey assessing SUD and psychiatric symptoms; the survey was readministered 6 months later. Multiple and logistic regression analyses examined patient SUD and psychiatric outcome indicators to compare potential benefits of initiating treatment at a dual-diagnosis treatment program. At treatment entry, patients who e...