Rolling Psychodynamic Group for Cocaine Use Disorder: A Single-Group Study Using Multilevel Models

ABSTRACT

Cocaine disorder has been shown to have an important impact on the success of treatments because it is often associated with social or occupational impairment, high relapse incidences and poor treatment outcomes. Many community group treatment programs for cocaine disorders use a rolling admissions structure, in which a group member who drops out or successfully completes therapy is replaced by another individual. Despite the common use, little is known about the effectiveness of this group. The study involved 18 patients who started a group therapy for cocaine abuse disorder. Outpatients group therapy take place into Clinical Center of Cocaine Addicts in Brescia, Italy. The measures used are DAST-20, OQ-45, GMLCS. The analysis conducted by the Multilevel Models show improvements compared to the symptom that is reliable with respect to psychological functioning. Patients who remain in treatment longer experience a greater quality of relationships within the group.

KEYWORDS:

• Cocaine abuse
• effectiveness
• multilevel models
• rolling group

Notes

1 The DAST-20 and the GMLCS were translated into Italian according to guidelines that are widely accepted for the translation of instruments in cross-cultural research (Brislin, 1970). One of the investigators translated the questionnaires from the original language (English) to the second language (Italian); the translation was slightly revised after consultation with two of the other Italian-speaking investigators. These Italian translations were subsequently translated back by a bilingual teaching assistant whose “mother-tongue” was English and who had previous experiences translating psychology texts. The authors of each instrument reviewed the back translation. Differences were discussed and resolved by joint agreement of translators.