Psychotherapy Enhancement for Therapeutic Community (TC) Retention - 1

Phase 2

• Conditions: Substance-Related Disorders

• Registration Number: NCT00086398
• Lead Sponsor: National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of Dual Focus Schema Therapy in comparison to Individual Drug Counseling as 6-month manualized individual behavioral therapy enhancements to the orientation/early treatment process of Therapeutic Community (TC) residents.

Detailed Description

Therapeutic Community (TC) treatment can be effective psychosocial modality for addiction, but premature dropout remains a major problem. Personality disorders are very common in residential programs, and TCs regard personality disturbance as core to all people with addiction. Severe personality dysfunction is associated with higher dropout rates from TCs, and adding cognitive-behavioral treatments may improve retention and outcome. We hypothesize that severe personality disturbance causes significant problems with an individual?s initial adjustment and effective utilization of TC processes and techniques. We predict that a behavioral therapy that targets personality pathology will result in better early retention and engagement than will a more standard addiction counseling approach.

To begin to improve retention, TC research must begin to systematically evaluate the impact of adding interventions targeted at decreasing premature dropouts through controlled clinical trials. We have developed the first empirically tested treatment manual for the full range of personality disorders in substance abusers and propose to conduct a randomized clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy of Dual Focus Schema Therapy in comparison to Individual Drug Counseling as 6-month manualized individual behavioral therapy enhancements to the orientation/early treatment process of 100 TC residents. In addition to evaluating retention differences, we will analyze the rate and degree of change for these two conditions monthly and at 6, 12, 18, and 24-month follow-up for psychological indicators related to personality disorder and therapeutic processes related to the TC.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2001-09
• Study First Submitted: 2004-07-01
• Study First Submitted QC: 2004-07-06
• Study First Posted: 2004-07-07
• Status Verified: 2005-11
• Last Update Submitted: 2005-11-03
• Last Update Posted: 2005-11-07

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: UNKNOWN
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 100

Inclusion Criteria

Adolescent or adult substance abuser; provide 2 or more contacts; ability to read and speak English

Exclusion Criteria

Acute suicidality, homicidality, psychosis, mania

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: FACTORIAL

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Retention
Psychosocial functioning

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

APT Residential Services Division; 🇺🇸 New Haven, Connecticut, United States