THERAPIST PATIENT RACE AND SEX MATCHING - TREATMENT RETENTION AND 9-MONTH FOLLOW-UP OUTCOME/

Aims. The current study was conducted to (a) replicate previous findin gs regarding the effect of patient/therapist race and sex-matching as this relates to the early dropout rate of substance abusers, and (b) t o extend previous work by examining the impact of such matching on tre atment retention and 9-month outcome. Design. Patient and therapist ch aracteristics were crossed in a 2 x 2 factorial design. Matching effec ts were then tested wing retrospective data. Participants. Participant s were 967 African-American cocaine-dependent people. Setting. The stu dy site was a university sponsored outpatient treatment facility locat ed in an economically depressed section of a large Northeastern US cit y. Measurements. Follow-up data were drawn from the Addiction Severity Index, the Risk for AIDS Behavior Inventory, and a questionnaire meas uring post-discharge need for treatment, employment and education. Ret ention was defined as the number of days inclusive between the last da te of service and the date of admission. Findings. No significant diff erences in early dropout rates were found after initial contact with 1 0 different therapists. Matching therapists and patients with respect to gender and race did not decrease the premature dropout rate, but pa rtial support for gender matching was noted. Conclusions. Matching the rapists and substance abusing patients on gender and race may not be e ssential to improving retention and outcome.