Robert E Drake1, Alison E Luciano2, Kim T Mueser3, Nancy H Covell4, Susan M Essock4, Haiyi Xie2, Gregory J McHugo5. 1. Department of Psychiatry, Dartmouth Psychiatric Research Center, Lebanon, NH; Robert.E.Drake@dartmouth.edu. 2. Department of Psychiatry, Dartmouth Psychiatric Research Center, Lebanon, NH; 3. Department of Occupational Therapy, Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation, Boston, MA; 4. Department of Psychiatry, Columbia Medical School, New York, NY; 5. Departments of Psychiatry and Community and Family Medicine, Dartmouth Medical School, Lebanon, NH.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: A previous longitudinal study in rural New Hampshire showed that community mental health center clients with co-occurring schizophrenia-spectrum and substance use disorders (SZ/SUD) improved steadily and substantially over 10 years. The current study examined 7 years of prospective clinical and functional outcomes among inner-city Connecticut (CT) community mental health center clients with SZ/SUD. METHOD: Participants were 150 adults with SZ/SUD, selected for high service needs, in 2 inner-city mental health centers in CT. Initially, all received integrated mental health and substance abuse treatments for at least the first 3 years as part of a clinical trial. Assessments at baseline and yearly over 7 years measured progress toward 6 target clinical and functional outcomes: absence of psychiatric symptoms, remission of substance abuse, independent housing, competitive employment, social contact with non-users of substances, and life satisfaction. RESULTS: The CT SZ/SUD participants improved significantly on 5 of the 6 main outcomes: absence of psychiatric symptoms (45%-70%), remission of substance use disorders (8%-61%), independent housing (33%-47%), competitive employment (14%-28%), and life satisfaction (35%-53%). Only social contact with nonusers of substances was unimproved (14%-17%). CONCLUSIONS: Many urban community mental health center clients with SZ/SUD and access to integrated treatment improve significantly on clinical, vocational, residential, and life satisfaction outcomes over time, similar to clients with SZ/SUD in rural areas. Thus, the long-term course for people with SZ/SUD is variable but often quite positive.
OBJECTIVE: A previous longitudinal study in rural New Hampshire showed that community mental health center clients with co-occurring schizophrenia-spectrum and substance use disorders (SZ/SUD) improved steadily and substantially over 10 years. The current study examined 7 years of prospective clinical and functional outcomes among inner-city Connecticut (CT) community mental health center clients with SZ/SUD. METHOD:Participants were 150 adults with SZ/SUD, selected for high service needs, in 2 inner-city mental health centers in CT. Initially, all received integrated mental health and substance abuse treatments for at least the first 3 years as part of a clinical trial. Assessments at baseline and yearly over 7 years measured progress toward 6 target clinical and functional outcomes: absence of psychiatric symptoms, remission of substance abuse, independent housing, competitive employment, social contact with non-users of substances, and life satisfaction. RESULTS: The CT SZ/SUD participants improved significantly on 5 of the 6 main outcomes: absence of psychiatric symptoms (45%-70%), remission of substance use disorders (8%-61%), independent housing (33%-47%), competitive employment (14%-28%), and life satisfaction (35%-53%). Only social contact with nonusers of substances was unimproved (14%-17%). CONCLUSIONS: Many urban community mental health center clients with SZ/SUD and access to integrated treatment improve significantly on clinical, vocational, residential, and life satisfaction outcomes over time, similar to clients with SZ/SUD in rural areas. Thus, the long-term course for people with SZ/SUD is variable but often quite positive.
Authors: K T Mueser; P R Yarnold; D F Levinson; H Singh; A S Bellack; K Kee; R L Morrison; K G Yadalam Journal: Schizophr Bull Date: 1990 Impact factor: 9.306
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