The relationship of axis II personality disorders to other known predictors of addiction treatment outcome

This study evaluated the prevalence of Axis II disorders in substance abuse patients and the relationship between Axis II psychopathology and two othe r known predictors of adverse addiction treatment outcomes, i.e., Axis I ps ychiatric comorbidity and illegal drug use, specifically cocaine. 232 patie nts with cocaine and/or alcohol dependence were admitted to either inpatien t or outpatient addiction recovery programs at Carrier Foundation, a nonpro fit, private-pay hospital in New Jersey. Axis II disorders were more preval ent in cocaine than alcohol dependence and in patients with Axis I psychiat ric comorbidity. When all three predictors were evaluated in one prediction model, the combination of Axis I and II psychopathology was the best predi ctor of a return to substance use at one year post-treatment, compared to t he three factors alone. These findings highlighted the importance of the in terrelationship of the relative prognostic value of three known predictors of addiction treatment.