Keen, Jenna

Magor-Blatch, Lynne

Bhullar, Navjot

2011

Introduction and Aims: Using the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory - III (MCMI-III), this study aimed to determine what personality factors, if any, would predict retention within therapeutic community (TC) treatment for residents presenting with Amphetamine-type stimulant (ATS) use disorders. The MCMI-III identifies the deeper and pervasive personality characteristics underlying a person's overt symptoms; and assists the practitioner to gain an integrated understanding of the relationship between personality characteristics and clinical syndromes in order to facilitate treatment decisions. Design and Methods: Participants were 247 residents from 10 TCs in Australia. The MCMI-III was administered at the commencement of the study and follow-up discharge information was obtained from TCs at 12 months post-baseline to determine which residents had completed the treatment program and the reason for discharge - including program completion and premature discharge from treatment. Results: In line with other studies, it was hypothesised that the presence of personality disorders (PD) would have an adverse effect on the treatment of Axis 1 Disorders, including Substance Use Disorders, and that those residents who had higher scores at the commencement of treatment would show higher drop-out rates. Results from this study showed high drop-out rates amongst residents in both conditions. Discussion and Conclusion: The presence of personality disorders in substance using populations is well-known, and has implications for treatment in both residential and outpatient settings. The additional introduction of a specialised ATS intervention is discussed in light of the results of this study, with suggestions of treatment approaches for clients presenting with high PD scores.

Drug and Alcohol Review Special Issue: Australasian Professional Society on Alcohol and other Drugs Conference 2011 (Abstracts), p. 50-50

0959-5236

https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/12083

en

Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd

Drug and Alcohol Review

Do Personality Factors Predict Retention within Therapeutic Communities for Residents Presenting with Amphetamine-Type Stimulant (ATS) Use Disorders?

Conference Publication

Publication