A Comparison Between the Involuntary and Voluntary Treatment of Patients With Alcohol Use Disorder in a Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program.

Objective: The purpose of the study was to determine if there was a significant difference between veterans who received treatment voluntarily versus involuntarily in regard to length of sobriety.

Method: A sample of 120 veterans being treated for alcohol use disorder in a residential rehabilitation treatment program was used for this study. Veterans who were admitted under recommendation by court order (n = 60) were matched with veterans who were admitted without recommendation of court order (n = 60). Success of the program was determined by the number of days of sobriety postdischarge.

Results: The study revealed that there was no significant difference between types of motivation for residential treatment (i.e., voluntary vs. involuntary treatment) and length of sobriety for veterans with alcohol use disorder posttreatment.

Conclusions: Findings revealed that there was no significant relationship when comparing types of motivation for treatment in a residential treatment program for veterans in regard to length of sobriety posttreatment. Therefore, a veteran's motivation for treatment may not necessarily be an accurate indicator of treatment outcomes (i.e., length of sobriety posttreatment) for residential treatment settings.