Improving 24-month abstinence and employment outcomes for substance-dependent women receiving temporary assistance for needy families with intensive case management.

Objective: We examined abstinence rates among substance-dependent women receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) in intensive case management (ICM) over 24 months and whether ICM yielded significantly better employment outcomes compared with a screen-and-refer program (i.e., usual care).

Testing mechanisms of action for intensive case management.

Aim: This study identified factors that predict, mediate or moderate the effects of intensive case management (ICM) on longer-term drug abstinence outcomes in women on welfare.

Design: In a parent study women were assigned randomly to usual care (UC) or intensive case management (ICM). Treatment was provided for 12 weeks and follow-up continued for 15 months after study intake.

Effectiveness of intensive case management for substance-dependent women receiving temporary assistance for needy families.

Objective: We tested the effectiveness of a long-term coordinated care strategy--intensive case management (ICM)--compared with usual care (UC) among a group of substance-dependent women receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).

Methods: Substance-dependent women on TANF (N=302) were recruited from welfare offices. They were assessed and randomly assigned to ICM or UC; follow-up was at 3, 9, and 15 months.

Development of the OCDS--revised: a measure of alcohol and drug urges with outpatient substance abuse clients.

Urges to use substances is an important construct in understanding the maintenance of substance use as well as relapse. There is a need to evaluate single instruments measuring global urges to use substances (including alcohol). The Obsessive Compulsive Drinking Scale (OCDS; R.

Examining mechanisms of action in 12-Step community outpatient treatment.

Twelve-step theory hypothesizes that changes in specific cognitions and behaviors, including adoption of disease model beliefs and involvement in self-help programs, lead to symptom reduction. We examined the role of self-help affiliation in treatment outcome using causal chain analysis. Baseline, end-treatment and follow-up self-help affiliation and substance use were assessed in 252 drug and alcohol abusers attending a community program.

Assessing consequences of substance use: psychometric properties of the inventory of drug use consequences.

Negative consequences are an important component of the substance use change process, yet no standardized measure exists to assess consequences of use. This study evaluated the psychometric properties of the Inventory of Drug Use Consequences, a self-report measure assessing drinking and drug use consequences. Participants (N=252) were assessed at entry into outpatient substance abuse treatment.

Health-related quality of life for adults participating in outpatient substance abuse treatment.

Interest exists in assessing health-related quality of life as one aspect of treatment effectiveness with substance abuse clients. The SF-36 Health Survey is a self-report measure assessing subjective health status along physical and mental health dimensions. Subjects were 252 adults in an outpatient, randomized clinical trial for substance abuse treatment.

Barriers to employability among substance dependent and nonsubstance-affected women on federal welfare: implications for program design.

Objective: This study examined barriers to employability among women meeting criteria for a substance dependence disorder who were identified by routine screening conducted in welfare offices. The characteristics of these women were compared to other women on welfare who did not have a substance use disorder.

Method: A sample of 214 substance dependent women on federal welfare were recruited to participate in a substance use disorders welfare demonstration project.

Motivational subtypes and continuous measures of readiness for change: concurrent and predictive validity.

This study compared the concurrent and predictive validity of motivational subtypes versus a continuous measure of readiness for change as measured by the University of Rhode Island Change Assessment Scale (URICA; E. A. McConnaughy, J.

Examining mechanisms of action in 12-step treatment: the role of 12-step cognitions.

Objective: Twelve-step treatment appears to be modestly effective in treating alcohol and cocaine dependence, but little is known about its mechanisms of action. The primary aim of this study was to examine the hypothesized mechanism of action of 12-step cognitions. In addition, the psychometric properties of a measure used to assess 12-step cognitions were tested.