Comparison of individual and group cognitive-behavioral therapy for alcohol and/or drug-dependent patients

Aims and design. A randomized clinical trial was performed to evaluate the influence of two formats of cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy (individual vs. group) in the treatment of alcohol and/or drug dependent patients. Sett ing. Public outpatient drug dependence service. Participants. One hundred a nd fifty-five alcohol and/or drug-dependent patients. Intervention. The pat ients were randomly assigned to individual (n = 77) or group (n = 78) treat ment formats. The treatment was developed into two phases: acquisition (eig ht sessions) and maintenance (nine sessions), distributed over an 8-month p eriod. Measurements. Alcohol and drug use, severity of dependence, and alco hol- and drug-related problems were evaluated at pre-treatment and 15 month s after admission to treatment. Findings. At follow-up evaluation both grou ps of patients presented similar levels of drug consumption, dependence and associated problems. Although group-treated patients reported slightly hig her levels of alcohol consumption (both at baseline and follow-up) differen ces between the formats disappear if baseline levels are included as covari ates. Compliance with treatment and a measure of drug severity were predict ors of success for the drug dependents. The number of sessions attended and high GGT levels at admission were positively correlated with success for t he alcohol dependents. Conclusions. The two modalities presented similar ou tcomes and, as the group format could present a better cost-benefit ratio, it may be used without decreasing compliance with treatment or treatment ef fectiveness.