The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #68374

Terri S. Tobin, PhD, John A. Hornik, PhD, and Blossom Davies, PhD. Advocates for Human Potential, 490-B Boston Post Road, Suite 200, Sudbury, MA 01776

Co-occurring psychiatric disorders are common among clients in methadone maintenance programs. The focus of this research is on comparing two methadone programs that serve persons with a dual diagnosis. One program represents a parallel approach, referring clients to a second agency for mental health treatment. The other represents an integrated approach in which treatment for both problems is incorporated within the program. The goal of the study is to assess the relative effectiveness of the two programs in treating both the addiction and the co-occurring mental health disorder. We employ a quasi-experimental design that controls for pre-treatment differences in program population. The key study outcomes, assessed through repeated client interviews over a one year period, include substance use, risk and prevention, physical health, mental health, environmental and interpersonal situations, legal problems, and employment and income. A subset of outcomes is also assessed through briefer surveys completed by clinicians, as well as urinalyses data.

This presentation will focus on access to treatment of co-occurring mental health disorders in the two programs (the program sites are in Boston, MA and Providence, RI). The presentation will include the following: 1) rates of receiving mental health treatment and the characteristics of that treatment by program type; 2) predictors (e.g., identification of diagnosis, length of stay, symptoms) of receiving mental health treatment; and, 3) the impact of receiving mental health treatment on client outcomes (as measured at 6 months). This study is a part of the Co-Occurring Disorders Initiative sponsored by the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of this session, the participant will be able to:
• articulate the differences between integrated and parallel programs in terms of access to mental health treatment; 2)discuss factors that influence access to mental health treatment; and,
• discuss the impact of receiving mental health treatment on key client outcomes.

Keywords: Mental Health, Methadone Maintenance

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.