Drug Treatment Decisions of Chemically-Dependent Women

Abstract

The Cognitive Appraisal Model was developed as a means of examining the cognitive appraisal processes and the intervening variables that affect the decision of chemically-dependent women (CDW) to remain in or drop out of a drug treatment program. Methodological triangulation, in which eight questionnaires were selected as construct measures, was used to compare a group of CDW who remained in treatment 4 consecutive months (N = 39) and a group who dropped out prior to completing 4 consecutive months (N = 41). Anger was the strongest predictor of treatment dropout, and feeling inconvenienced by treatment demands ironically predicted treatment compliance. Overall, findings revealed that CDW appraise drug treatment decisions differently than would be expected.

Key Words:

• Chemically-dependent women
• Cognitive appraisal processes
• Intervening variables