Publication
Title
Treatment outcomes of an integrated residential programme for patients with schizophrenia and substance use disorder
Author
Abstract
Background: About half of all schizophrenic patients have a co-occurring substance use disorder, leading to poorer social and functional outcomes than obtained in non-abusing patients. To improve outcomes, integrated treatments have been designed that address the two conditions simultaneously. Results are, however, conflicting because the available effect studies are hampered by various methodological issues, among which are heterogeneous patient samples. Methods: In this comparative study, two well-described patient samples diagnosed with schizophrenia and co-morbid substance abuse disorders either received an integrated treatment (IDDT) or treatment as usual (TAU). Results: Patients in the IDDT condition showed significant reductions in illicit drug and alcohol use, improvements on all psychiatric symptom domains, reported higher quality of life and improved on social and community functioning. In contrast, patients' improvements in the TAU group were moderate and limited to a few substance use and psychiatric outcomes. The TAU group had significantly higher dropout rates 6 and 12 months after baseline, suggesting that the IDDT programme was more successful in committing patients. Conclusions: Our results suggest that an integrated approach to schizophrenic patients and co-morbid substance use disorders is superior to standard treatment and may be considered as the treatment of choice for this patient group.
Language
English
Source (journal)
European addiction research. - Basel
Publication
Basel : 2011
ISSN
1022-6877
DOI
10.1159/000324480
Volume/pages
17 :3 (2011) , p. 154-163
ISI
000291023900007
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 22.02.2011
Last edited 15.11.2022
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