Differential effects of treatment modality on psychosocial functioning of cocaine-dependent men

Changes in psychosocial functioning, including depression, anxiety, somatization, obsessive-compulsiveness, interpersonal sensitivity, confidence in the ability to resist taking drugs in different situations, and social adjustment are examined for male veterans entering treatment for cocaine dependence. The sample was comprised of African Americans (66%), Hispanics (8%), and Whites (26%) with a mean age of 35 years at intake. Participants were assessed at the end of 1 year and 2 years; during the follow-up period, participants utilized different combinations of treatment modalities. Paired t-tests showed significant improvement between intake and follow-up, both at the end of 1 year and 2 years, on the Beck Depression Inventory, on the depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsiveness, and interpersonal sensitivity scores of the Symptom Check List (SCL-58), and in four role areas of social adjustment on the Social Adjustment Inventory. There were no significant differences between intake and follow-up on the somatization subscale of the SCL-58 and on the Drug Taking Confidence Questionnaire (DTCQ). Measures taken at Year 2 were not significantly different from Year 1. Repeated measures analysis of variance revealed that treatment modality did not differentially affect psychosocial functioning on nearly all measures, except on somatization, confidence in the ability to resist taking drugs in different situations, and social adjustment involving leisure time. However, a combination of inpatient, high-intensity outpatient, and self-help group participation and a combination of outpatient and self-help group participation were better than a combination of inpatient, low-intensity outpatient, and self-help participation in increasing the confidence in the ability to resist cocaine use in different situations and to reduce symptoms of somatization.