NCJ Number
186815
Journal
Substance Use and Misuse: An International Interdisciplinary Forum Volume: 35 Issue: 12-14 Dated: 2000 Pages: 2191-2213
Date Published
2000
Length
23 pages
Annotation
This discussion of "placement matching" for substance abuse treatment (what treatment setting is best at what time) addresses theoretical issues, technical challenges, controversies regarding validity, preliminary evidence for placement-matching validity, and diverse populations.
Abstract
The overview of theoretical issues focuses on variability and constraints in treatment settings, variability among clinical syndromes, multidimensional problems, multiple outcome constructs, and temporal factors in the course of recovery. The section on technical challenges considers measurement reliability and resolution, standardization, and the feasibility of matching. Overall, the authors conclude that progress has been made in clarifying treatment matching variables, and field trials of placement-matching instruments are underway. Early results indicate that comprehensive placement criteria can be constructed with adequate reliability, feasible administration, concurrent validity, and a promise of outcome validity that will require field-trial completion. Problems remain to be solved, however, including patient acceptance, program flexibility, program characterization, service range expansion, managed care requirements, and special population placement matching. 72 references