A modified therapeutic community for the dually diagnosed. Greenhouse program at Bellevue hospital

FRANÇAIS :
Les techniques des communautés thérapeutiques peuvent être appliquées à des patients ayant des troubles mentaux et des troubles psychiatriques liés à l'usage de substance. Cette étude évalue donc les données démographiques, l'évolution et les résultats de 100 hommes indigents admis en communauté thérapeutique avec un double diagnostic (test d'urine, évaluation clinique de la consommation de drogue ou d'alcool). 33 patients ont terminé le programme de 6 mois et vivent dans un environnement stable. Et, seuls 12 patients ont eu des tests positifs d'urine (présence de drogues illicites ou d'alcool) pendant le programme. Les résultats sont favorables à l'hypothèse de départ.
ENGLISH :
Techniques used in therapeutic communities may be applicable to patients dually diagnosed with mental illness and a psychoactive substance use disorder. This study was designed to evaluate the demographics, course, and outcome for 100 patients treated in one such residential program. One hundred indigent male patients admitted to a drug-free therapeutic community for the dually diagnosed were studied on admission and over the course of their treatment, and subjects were monitored throughout their stays on the basis of observed urine toxicology tests and a clinical assessment of drug or alcohol use. The mean age of the patients was 33.8 years, and the average length of stay was 121.0 days. 33 of the patients completed the full 6-month program and moved on to another stable living environment. Only 12 patients had urine toxicologies positive for illicit drugs or alcohol while in the program. These findings support the possibility of applying the residential drug-free therapeutic community to dually diagnosed patients. (Authors'abstract)