Predicting outcome of substance abuse treatment in a feedback study: Can recovery curves be improved upon?

OBJECTIVE: The goal of the study was to evaluate whether enhanced normative feedback recovery curves are needed for treatment of substance use problems. METHOD: Patient predictors of outcome were examined using data from four substance abuse treatment clinics. RESULTS: Baseline severity of symptoms/functioning, employment, and craving were found to be associated with rate of change in symptoms/functioning. Several other variables were associated with rate of change in alcohol use, although in the opposite direction than found in efficacy trials. CONCLUSIONS: The results point to the complexity of designing feedback systems using normative recovery curves for those with substance use problems and highlight the important differences between real-world treatment of those with substance use problems compared to data from efficacy trials.