Treatment Outcome Study (treatment + outcome_study)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Kinds of Treatment Outcome Study

  • australian treatment outcome study


  • Selected Abstracts


    The characteristics of heroin users entering treatment: findings from the Australian Treatment Outcome Study (ATOS)

    DRUG AND ALCOHOL REVIEW, Issue 5 2005
    JOANNE ROSS
    Abstract The current study aimed to describe the characteristics (demographics, drug use, mental and physical health) of entrants to treatment for heroin dependence in three treatment modalities; and to compare these characteristics with heroin users not in or seeking treatment. Participants were 825 current heroin users recruited from Sydney, Adelaide and Melbourne: 277 entering methadone/buprenorphine maintenance treatment (MT), 288 entering detoxification (DTX), 180 entering drug-free residential rehabilitation (RR) and 80 not in treatment (NT). Treatment entrants were generally long-term heroin users with previous treatment experience. The majority of the sample (55%) were criminally active in the month preceding interview. Injection-related health problems (74%) and a history of heroin overdose (58%) were commonly reported. There were high degrees of psychiatric co-morbidity, with 49% reporting severe psychological distress, 28% having current major depression, 37% having attempted suicide and 42% having a lifetime history of post-traumatic stress disorder. Personality disorders were also prevalent, with 72% meeting criteria for antisocial personality disorder and 47% screening positive for borderline personality disorder. Striking similarities were noted between the non-treatment and treatment groups in length of heroin use career, drug use and treatment histories. [source]


    Progression through early drinking milestones in an adolescent treatment sample

    ADDICTION, Issue 3 2010
    Kristina M. Jackson
    ABSTRACT Aims Research using nationally representative and community samples demonstrates a robust association between early onset of drinking and increased likelihood of numerous adverse outcomes. However, little is known about the subsequent drinking that occurs early in the drinking career. The present study dissects the transition from any alcohol use to treatment entry by taking a fine-grained approach to examining the attainment and progression of drinking events in a sample of adolescents in substance use treatment. Design/Setting Data were taken from the Drug Abuse Treatment Outcome Study for Adolescents (DATOS-A), a multi-site, community-based study of adolescents entering treatment. Participants Respondents included 3331 youth aged 12,18 years (mean = 15.75) admitted to treatment in 1993,95 (74% male, 52% white, 24% African American, 20% Hispanic). Measurements Age of attainment was obtained for five drinking-related milestones, including first drink of alcohol, first time drunk, first monthly drinking, first drank five or more drinks/day on a weekly basis and first drank five or more drinks/day on a daily basis. Findings Most milestones were attained at a very early age, and average progression through adjacent drinking events was relatively swift, Movement through early drinking milestones was accelerated in girls and white youth. Youth who reported their first drink at an early age (age 10 or younger) showed slower progression, suggesting the existence of distinct processes underlying early use and drinking transitions within an individual. Conclusions This study provides data relevant to understanding drinking progression/natural history in a large clinical sample, especially for differences by gender and ethnicity. The findings have implications for the identification of intermediate stages that might benefit from selected intervention programs. [source]


    Changes and predictors of change in the physical health status of heroin users over 24 months

    ADDICTION, Issue 3 2009
    Anna Williamson
    ABSTRACT Aims (i) To describe the course of physical health among the ATOS cohort over 24 months; and (ii) to examine the effects of treatment, drug use patterns and social and psychological factors on health status over 24 months. Design Longitudinal cohort. Setting Sydney, Australia. Participants A total of 615 heroin users recruited for the Australian Treatment Outcome Study (ATOS). Findings The general health of the cohort improved significantly over 24 months. Significant predictors of poor health over 24 months were: being older, being female, past month heroin, other opiate and tobacco use, past month unemployment and current major depression. Spending a greater proportion of time in residential rehabilitation (RR) was associated with better health over 24 months. No other treatment factors demonstrated a significant, independent relationship with health. Conclusions The physical health of dependent heroin users is affected by drug use and psychosocial problems. RR treatment appears to be particularly beneficial to the health of heroin users, suggesting the importance of a comprehensive approach to improving health among this group. [source]


    Patterns and costs of treatment for heroin dependence over 12 months: fndings from the Australian Treatment Outcome Study

    AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH, Issue 4 2006
    Marian Shanahan
    Objective: To determine patterns and costs of treatment for heroin dependence over a 12-month period among a cohort of heroin users seeking treatment. Methods: The design was a longitudinal cohort study of heroin users seeking treatment who participated in the Australian Treatment Outcome Study (ATOS), which was conducted in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide, Australia. Treatment for heroin dependence, for those who were followed up at 12 months, was recorded and costed. Unit costs, obtained from secondary sources, were used to estimate the cost of treatment. This study does not include wide societal costs and only includes personal costs as they pertain to treatment. Results: A follow-up rate of 81% at 12 months was achieved, resulting in data for 596 participants. Participants spent an average of 188 days in treatment over 2.7 episodes. Sixty-nine per cent of the sample reported at least one episode of treatment following their index treatment. There was a noticeable trend for subjects who received maintenance or residential rehabilitation as their index treatment to return to the same form of treatment for subsequent episodes. In contrast, those who received detoxifcation as index treatment accessed a wider variety of treatment types over the follow-up period. The cost of treatment over the 12-month follow-up totalled 3,901,416, with a mean of 6,517 per person. Conclusions and Implications: This study demonstrates that individuals seeking treatment have multiple treatment episodes throughout a 12-month period, with a tendency to return to the same form of treatment. This study also demonstrates that it is feasible and affordable to provide ongoing treatment for a group of heroin users seeking treatment. [source]