RETENTION IN SUBSTANCE-ABUSE TREATMENT - ROLE OF PSYCHIATRIC SYMPTOM SEVERITY

The authors investigated the association between psychiatric symptom s everity and subsequent treatment retention among substance abusers. Th e Symptom Check List-90-R was administered, after admission to an addi ction treatment facility, to 308 male and 106 female clients with mode rate-to-severe substance abuse problems. Mean scores on nine symptom a nd three summary scales were computed. Controlling for other sociodemo graphic and treatment variables, somatization was significantly associ ated with dropout from specialized outpatient and inpatient treatment programs. This study, however suggests that psychopathologic symptom s everity at admission has only limited utility in predicting subsequent treatment retention among substance abusers with overall moderate lev els of psychological distress.