The effect of type of aftercare follow-up on treatment outcome among alcoholics.

Past research on methods for actively engaging alcoholics in aftercare has been mixed with respect to the effects of such efforts on treatment outcome. The present study examined whether active follow-up methods do aid in engaging the alcoholic in treatment, whether such procedures improve treatment outcome and how much responsibility the therapist must be willing to assume in order to maintain the patient in treatment. Appointment keeping was significantly improved by a home-visit follow-up method in the first 6 months postdischarge (p less than .01). However, there was no one-to-one correspondence between improved therapy attendance and improved treatment outcome. When subjects were classified into treatment dropout and treatment completion groups, however, a treatment effect was achieved. The most intensive follow-up condition increased the probability of treatment completion, supporting to some degree the utility of aggressive follow-up. However, it was concluded that the cost of such procedures probably will limit their use since a significant economic variable (number of days hospitalized during the follow-up year) was not affected by type of aftercare.