Structured diagnosis and timely treatment of dual diagnosis: effect on the retention rate in outpatient treatment for substance use disorders

ABSTRACT

Background

In patients with substance use disorders (SUD), adherence to outpatient treatment programs is critical. There is little research in Mexico on the evaluation of different treatment models. The objective of this study was to evaluate and adjust an ambulatory treatment model in subjects with SUD in a care centre in Mexico.

Methods

This project was planned in two stages: the first consisted of evaluating the efficacy of the established model and determining the variables associated with compliance at 12 weeks. The second stage has reevaluated the model once the variables associated with the abandonment of the treatment were modified.

Results

A total of 220 (S1) and 161 (S2) patients were included. The first model showed a 12-week retention rate of 24% and lower comorbidity than that reported in the literature (32% versus 60–80%). Then the model was adjusted to include the structured diagnosis and the systematized treatment of the dual pathology. In the reassessment phase, psychiatric comorbidity increased to 86.3% and the retention rate was increased to 40.37%.

Conclusions

The structured diagnosis and timely treatment of dual pathology is a fundamental component to improving retention rates in outpatient programs for treating patients with SUD.

KEYWORDS:

• Substance use disorders
• compliance
• dual diagnosis
• outpatient

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

The authors reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.