A randomized trial comparing day and residential drug abuse treatment: 18-month outcomes

Extending an earlier report of 6-month outcomes, this study reports 12- and 18-month follow-up data for clients (N = 188) entering a therapeutic commu nity drug treatment program who were randomly assigned to day or residentia l treatment conditions. Outcomes included Addiction Severity Index composit e scores and measures of depression, psychiatric symptoms, and social suppo rt, Both groups showed significant change over time. The pattern of change indicated decreased problem severity in the 1st 6 months and then maintenan ce of lowered problem severity. Comparisons between groups indicated greate r improvement for residential treatment clients on social problems and psyc hiatric symptoms but no differences on the remaining outcomes. Although res idential treatment may offer some specific advantages, the conclusion here is that improvement among day treatment clients was not significantly diffe rent from that of residential treatment clients.