INTEGRATED TREATMENT FOR DUALLY DIAGNOSED HOMELESS ADULTS

This study examined the effects of integrating mental health, substanc e abuse, and housing interventions for homeless persons with co-occurr ing severe mental illness and substance use disorder. With the use of a quasi-experimental design, integrated treatment was compared with st andard treatment for 217 homeless, dually diagnosed adults over an 18- month period. The integrated treatment group had fewer institutional d ays and more days in stable housing, made more progress toward recover y from substance abuse, and showed greater improvement of alcohol use disorders than the standard treatment group. Abuse of drugs other than alcohol (primarily cocaine) improved similarly for both groups. Secon dary outcomes, such as psychiatric symptoms, functional status, and qu ality of life, also improved for both groups, with minimal group diffe rences favoring integrated treatment.