Evaluating Substance Abuse Treatment Process Models: I. Changes on Proximal Outcome Variables During 12-Step and Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment

• NCJ Number: 175651
• Journal: Journal of Studies on Alcohol Volume: 59 Issue: 4 Dated: July 1998 Pages: 371-380
• Author(s): J W Finney; C A Noyes; A I Coutts; R H Moos
• Date Published: 1998
• Length: 10 pages
• Sale Source: NCJRS Photocopy Services
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This article discusses the early linkages in the treatment process chains thought to underlie two prevalent approaches to substance abuse treatment.

Abstract

A total of 3,228 men receiving treatment in 15 Department of Veterans Affairs substance abuse treatment programs were assessed at treatment entry and at or near discharge from inpatient programs that had desired lengths of stay of 21-28 days. Between intake and discharge, patients in 12-step programs improved more than did cognitive-behavioral (C-B) patients on proximal outcome variables assumed to be specific to 12-step treatment (e.g., attending 12-step meetings, taking steps), whereas patients in C-B programs made no greater change (and in a few cases, less change) than did 12-step patients on proximal outcome variables assumed to underlie C-B treatment (e.g., self-efficacy, coping skills). These findings suggest that the proximal outcomes thought to be specific to C-B treatment are actually general proximal outcomes of both 12-step and C-B treatment. Tables, references