Do treatment process factors mediate the relationship between Type A Type B and outcome in 12-Step oriented substance abuse treatment?

Aims. One underutilized strategy for enhancing treatment research is to exa mine intervening factors that link client characteristics to endpoint outco mes. This study tested the hypothesis that Type B substance abusers would d emonstrate difficulties engaging in the treatment process, and that these p roblems would mediate their poorer outcomes. Design. Longitudinal naturalis tic study. Setting. Two intensive Id-Step substance abuse treatment program s. Participants. A sample of 115 men and women seeking treatment. Measureme nt. Empirical clustering techniques were used to divide the sample, and the link between type, process factors, and id-month outcomes was examined. Fi ndings. Hypotheses were nor supported. Type Bs did not demonstrate difficul ties with the treatment process, but had greater problems sustaining gains posttreatment. Contrary to prediction, Type Bs were better matched to self- help affiliation than Type As. Conclusions. Findings argue for a more optim istic perspective on treating Type Bs, and for the utility of Type A-Type B in informing treatment research.