PSYCHOTHERAPIES FOR ADOLESCENT SUBSTANCE-ABUSERS - A PILOT-STUDY

This study tested the hypothesis that dually diagnosed adolescent subs tance abusers could be matched to effective treatments on the basis of their comorbid psychopathology. Specifically, patients with externali zing disorders would have better outcomes when treated with cognitive- behavioral group treatment (CBT), and subjects with internalizing diso rders without comorbid externalizing disorders would fare better in in teractional group treatment (IT). Thirty-two dually diagnosed adolesce nt substance abusers were randomized into two 12-week manual guided ou tpatient group psychotherapies: CBT and IT. At 3-month follow-up, no p atient-treatment matching effects were identified. Adolescents assigne d to CBT demonstrated a significant reduction in severity of substance use compared with those assigned to IT. Improvement in severity of fa mily function showed a trend in favor of CBT. School function, peer-so cial relationships, legal problems, and psychiatric severity all showe d a consistent nonsignificant direction in favor of CBT over IT. CBT a ppears to be a promising short-term psychosocial intervention for adol escents.