Assessing alcohol treatment composite outcome: Further evidence utilizing brief measures

Abstract

The utility of implementing brief measures in determining alcohol treatment composite outcome status was examined in the present study. Forty-one individuals diagnosed with an alcohol disorder were assessed at intake, immediately following a 3-month out-patient treatment, and then again 6-months and 9-months post-intake. Subjects were classified as abstinent (38%), moderate drinking without problems (22%), heavy drinking or problems (16%), and heavy drinking and problems (24%) at the 9-month follow-up. Those with better composite outcomes had fewer psychiatric problems, better social behavior and role functioning, better mental- and physical-health related quality of life and greater satisfaction-with-life than subjects with poorer composite outcomes. Fully 97% of subjects with 'good' (abstinent, moderate drinking without problems) and 'poor' (heavy drinking and/or problems) outcomes were classified correctly with the non-alcohol-specific functioning measures. Data supports the use of brief, practical measures in determining composite outcome status and further supports the clinical meaningfulness of the composite outcome index.