A PROSPECTIVE-STUDY OF INTEGRATED OUTPATIENT TREATMENT FOR SUBSTANCE-ABUSING SCHIZOPHRENIC-PATIENTS

Forty-seven psychiatric inpatients with concurrent RDC-diagnosed schiz ophrenia and psychoactive substance use disorders were randomly assign ed to one of two outpatient treatment programs: 1) integrated psychiat ric and substance abuse treatment; or 2) non-integrated treatment. Pat ients abused cocaine, alcohol, and marijuana, with over two-thirds usi ng all three drugs. At 4 months, 16 of 23 patients (69.6%) in integrat ed treatment remained in treatment vs. 9 of 24 (37.5%) in the noninteg rated treatment. Rehospitalization did not differ between groups, but treatment nonstarters had significantly more days in the hospital than those who began treatment. At 8 months, addiction and psychiatric sev erity decreased significantly for patients remaining in treatment. Eng agement in integrated outpatient treatment may decrease rehospitalizat ion, and lessen psychiatric and substance abuse severity.