Predictors of outcome in drug treatment of adolescent inpatients.

Little is known about for whom treatment is most effective and how to match adolescent clients to substance-abuse treatment. 280 adolescents treated in a multifaceted program participated. Of these, 128 did not complete treatment prior to termination of the 2-mo. inpatient phase. They were significantly different from clients who completed treatment measures of alienation, social maladaptation, aggression, and lower occupational status of the father. Of those who completed inpatient treatment and remained in the study at 1-mo. postdischarge (n = 69) two groups were formed, those who improved and those who either remained the same or worsened in terms of substance abuse. For those who improved factors which differentiated them were identification with middle-class values, tendency to be older, initial difficulty identifying emotions, and depressive symptoms at intake. Clients who did not change or worsened were distinguished by more social anxiety, depressive symptoms, and troubling thoughts at intake. These results suggest that individual characteristics may identify cases who are more likely to benefit from treatment.