Patient treatment choice and compliance. Data from a substance abuse treatment program

The authors tested the hypothesis that patients (treatment-seeking cocaine-dependent persons) given the opportunity to choose between treatment approaches would do better than patients randomly assigned to the same approaches in treatment retention and 9-month outcome. Subjects were 34 patients who voluntarily chose to enter individual therapy 1 hour per week (IND) and 33 who chose intensive group therapy for 3 hours, 3 times weekly (INT). There were no significant differences between these two groups on demographic, personality, or addiction severity variables or in treatment retention or 9-month outcome. Comparison with samples of 30 patients who had been randomly assigned to IND and 30 to INT did not confirm the hypothesis that patients who chose their treatment would either remain in treatment for longer periods of time or manifest improved 9-month outcomes. The authors raise several motivational issues.