Internal-external control and withdrawal AMA from an alcohol rehabilitation program

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Addiction Studies
• Rehabilitation Science

Background:

• Alcoholism is a significant public health issue requiring effective treatment.
• In-patient rehabilitation programs aim to provide structured support for recovery.
• Patient adherence to treatment is crucial for successful outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between locus of control and treatment completion in alcoholics.
• To determine if patients leaving treatment against medical advice (AMA) differ in locus of control compared to those who complete treatment.
• To explore potential gender and age differences in this relationship.

Main Methods:

• Participants: Male and female alcoholics in an in-patient rehabilitation program.
• Instrument: Rotter Internal-External Control Scale administered to assess locus of control.
• Analysis: Comparison of scale scores between patients who left AMA and those who completed treatment, with subgroup analyses for gender and age.

Main Results:

• A trend (p < .06) suggested higher external locus of control scores among males who left AMA compared to male completers.
• No significant difference in locus of control scores was found between females who left AMA and female completers.
• Males and younger patients demonstrated a greater inclination to leave treatment against medical advice.

Conclusions:

• Locus of control may play a role in treatment adherence for male alcoholics, with external control potentially linked to leaving treatment early.
• Treatment adherence factors may differ between genders in the context of alcoholism.
• Age appears to be another factor associated with leaving treatment against medical advice, particularly in males.