Prognostic significance of antisocial personality disorder in cocaine-dependent patients entering continuing care

This study examined the relationship of antisocial personality disorder (AP D) to response to continuing care treatments in a sample of cocaine-depende nt patients. Patients (N = 127) were randomly assigned to 20-week standard group or individualized relapse prevention continuing care interventions af ter the completion of an initial treatment episode and followed up at 3, 6, and 12 months. APD and non-APE patients did not differ on retention in con tinuing care, substance use outcomes, social function outcomes, or experien ces before or during cocaine relapse episodes. A diagnosis of APD was also not a predictor of differential response to the two continuing care interve ntions in the study. However, APD patients had worse medical and psychiatri c problem severity than non-APE patients at entrance to continuing care and during follow-up. These results suggest that cocaine patients with APD who are in the continuing care phase of outpatient rehabilitation might benefi t from additional medical and psychiatric treatment services.