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Gustavo Irazoqui ¹, Rafael Groisman ², Isis Gruccos ³

⁰Magíster en terapia cognitivo conductual de las adicciones, Psicoterapeuta del Dispositivo Pavlovsky, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina. irazoquigustavo@gmail.com.

Anales. Hospital Torcuato De Alvear (buenos Aires, Argentina). Ateneo De Patologia Y Clinica Medica +

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October 21, 2024

View abstract on PubMed

Summary

Many patients discontinue addiction treatment due to personal ambivalence and perceived lack of a problem. Diversifying treatment options and improving admission strategies can enhance addiction program effectiveness.

Area Of Science

Addiction medicine
Psychiatry
Public health

Context

Patient dropout from addiction treatment is understudied.
Intensive outpatient addiction programs face challenges with patient retention.

Purpose

To investigate the reasons why patients abandon intensive outpatient addiction treatment.
To identify factors contributing to treatment discontinuation and inform program improvements.

Summary

A mixed-methods study of 55 patients who discontinued intensive outpatient addiction treatment revealed a 29.2% dropout rate.
Primary reasons for dropout included personal ambivalence, perceived lack of a problem, and program elements like global abstinence and group therapy.
Of those who responded to a questionnaire, 12.5% reported increased substance use, and 75% were concurrently undergoing mental health treatment.

Impact

Findings suggest that enhancing admission strategies, diversifying treatment modalities, and incorporating relational therapy could improve the efficacy of outpatient addiction programs.
Understanding patient-reported reasons for dropout is crucial for developing more effective and patient-centered addiction care.

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