Clinical outcomes of an integrated treatment for depression and substance use disorders

Psychol Addict Behav. 2010 Sep;24(3):453-65. doi: 10.1037/a0019943.

Abstract

The authors compared longitudinal treatment outcomes for depressed substance-dependent veterans (N = 206) assigned to integrated cognitive-behavioral therapy plus standard pharmacotherapy (ICBT + P) or 12-step facilitation therapy plus standard pharmacotherapy (TSF + P). Drug and alcohol involvement and depressive symptomology were measured at intake and at 3-month intervals during treatment and up to 1 year posttreatment. Participants in both treatment conditions showed decreased depression and substance use from intake. ICBT + P participants maintained improvements in substance involvement over time, whereas TSF + P participants had more rapid increases in use in the months following treatment. Decreases in depressive symptoms were more pronounced for TSF + P than ICBT + P in the 6 months posttreatment. Within both treatment groups, higher attendance was associated with improved substance use and depression outcomes over time. Initial levels of depressive symptomology had a complex predictive relationship with long-term depression outcomes. Early treatment response predicted long-term substance use outcomes for a portion of the sample. Although both treatments were associated with improvements in substance use and depression, ICBT + P may lead to more stable substance use reductions compared with TSF + P.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Antidepressive Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy*
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Depressive Disorder / complications
  • Depressive Disorder / therapy*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Psychotherapy, Group
  • Substance-Related Disorders / complications
  • Substance-Related Disorders / therapy*
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Antidepressive Agents