A Prospective Study of Integrated Outpatient Treatment for Substance‐Abusing Schizophrenic Patients

Forty‐seven psychiatric inpatients with concurrent RDC‐diagnosed schizophrenia and psychoactive substance use disorders were randomly assigned to one of two outpatient treatment programs: 1) integrated psychiatric and substance abuse treatment; or 2) non‐integrated treatment. Patients abused cocaine, alcohol, and marijuana, with over two‐thirds using all three drugs. At 4 months, 16 of 23 patients (69.6%) in integrated treatment remained in treatment vs. 9 of 24 (3 7.5%) in the nonintegrated treatment. Rehospitalization did not differ between groups, but treatment nonstarters had significantly more days in the hospital than those who began treatment. At 8 months, addiction and psychiatric severity decreased significantly for patients remaining in treatment. Engagement in integrated outpatient treatment may decrease rehospitalization, and lessen psychiatric and substance abuse severity. 1995 American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry