NCJ Number
180876
Journal
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs Volume: 31 Issue: 1 Dated: January-March 1999 Pages: 31-40
Date Published
1999
Length
10 pages
Annotation
This study examines whether severe mental illness, as well as the overall level of "burden" (the total number of "diagnoses" or "significant problems") impact the number of days that a female client can be retained in treatment.
Abstract
The study expanded on the concept of "level of burden" by examining issues for women with multiple vulnerabilities in a sample of 577 women who were participating in a residential substance abuse treatment program. Two types of outcomes were examined for the women. In Study 1, the effect of severe mental illness as well as overall level of burden on retention in treatment were examined. Cox regression analyses showed that severe mental illness was significantly related negatively to retention in treatment; those women diagnosed with severe mental illness tended to stay in treatment less time than those without such a diagnosis. In Study 2, staff ratings of the women's status at departure from residential treatment for a subsample of 311 women were examined with respect to overall retention in treatment and severe mental illness. Ratings of client status at program exit were significantly related to time in program, but were not related to having a severe mental illness diagnosis. For a few indicators (e.g., leaving treatment against advice, having scattered or disorganized thoughts, and having no specific plans for life outside of treatment), there was an interaction between time in program and severe mental illness, such that women with severe mental illness who were retained for less than 180 days were more likely to have negative outcomes. The implications of these findings for the treatment of multiply diagnosed women are discussed. 3 tables, 1 figure, and 37 references