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Depressive symptomatology and early attrition from intensive outpatient substance use treatment

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Abstract

This study examines the relationship between depressive symptoms and attrition from outpatient treatment in a Veterans Affairs facility that had recently moved to intensive outpatient-only treatment for substance abuse. This article focuses on 126 consecutively admitted patients who were enrolled on their last day of a 3- to 4-day outpatient detoxification. Results indicate that severe depressive symptomatology presenting at treatment entry is a significant risk factor for early attrition from intensive outpatient substance use treatment but not later attrition. These data indicate that retention efforts should be directed toward the assessment and management of depressive symptoms early in the treatment process, with interventions targeted to those who report severe symptomatology. The results also indicate that future research should focus on potential distinguishing characteristics between early and later attrition.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Veterans Administration Health Services Research and Development Center for Mental Healthcare and Outcomes Research, Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System, 2200 Fort Roots Drive, Building 58, 72114, North Little Rock, AR

    Geoffrey M. Curran PhD (Research Health Scientist), JoAnn E. Kirchner MD (Research Health Scientist) & Brenda M. Booth PhD (Research Health Scientist)

  2. Psychiatry at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock

    Geoffrey M. Curran PhD (Research Health Scientist) & Brenda M. Booth PhD (Research Health Scientist)

  3. University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock

    JoAnn E. Kirchner MD (Research Health Scientist)

  4. Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System, USA

    Mark Worley MD (Staff Physician) & Craig Rookey PhD (Staff Psychologist)

Authors
  1. Geoffrey M. Curran PhD
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  2. JoAnn E. Kirchner MD
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  3. Mark Worley MD
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  4. Craig Rookey PhD
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  5. Brenda M. Booth PhD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Geoffrey M. Curran PhD.

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Curran, G.M., Kirchner, J.E., Worley, M. et al. Depressive symptomatology and early attrition from intensive outpatient substance use treatment. The Journal of Behavioral Health Services & Research 29, 138–143 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02287700

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