Modified therapeutic community treatment for homeless dually diagnosed men - Who completes treatment?

We studied a modified therapeutic community designed for the treatment of patients with combined substance abuse and psychiatric disorders. This model has been ap117117plied on a limited basis in clinical practice, and little is known about the characteristics of patients who are likely to complete the prescribed stay in such it program. In this report, Me present characteristics of 189 homeless dually diagnosed men who entered a shelter-based modified therapeutic community with a prescribed 6-month stay. Thirty-four percent of admissions completed the pi-escribed stay. These patients were more likely to have fewer inpatient psychiatric admissions and more job experience than those who did riot complete their stay. Findings are discussed in terms of their similarities and differences to findings from traditional therapeutic communities for the singly diagnosed. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Inc.