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The purpose of this study was to investigate whether European and American therapeutic communities (TCs) for addiction, both traditional and modified, share a common perspective on what is essential in treatment using the Survey of Essential Elements Questionnaire (SEEQ). The European sample ( N == 19) was gathered in 2009. For the American sample ( N == 19), we used previously published research data. Despite comparable perspectives, European traditional TCs ( N == 11) scored significantly higher than their American predecessors ( N == 11) on four SEEQ domains. Cluster differences were more pronounced in Europe than in America. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a lack of research illustrating the extent of psychiatric problems in European TCs. Furthermore, there is a need to obtain more insight into gender differences concerning comorbidity in the TC population. In an attempt to respond to previous shortcomings, three specific goals were formulated for the current study. The primary aim was to explore the lifetime prevalence of affective disorders in European TC clients. The second aim was to focus on related gender differences. And finally, client characteristics measured by the EuropASI were related to mood and anxiety disorders measured by the SCID-I. Nine out of ten substance abusers treated in a European TC program have an affective disorder. Gender differences are noted for two anxiety disorders: men have more obsessive-compulsive disorders; women have more post-traumatic stress disorders. The study illustrates that not only gender but also other client characteristics should be taken into account when organizing treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes experiences of implementing different standardized assessment tools for research and treatment needs in 29 residential treatment centres in nine countries in Europe, within the IPTRP (Improving Psychiatric Treatment in Residential Programs for emerging dependency groups). Four instruments were obligatory for all centres participating: the EuropASI, the SCID, the Maastricht Social Network Analysis MSNA and the BioMAPS. The implementation process was prolonged, since extensive and repeated training was needed and the instruments had to be translated and adapted, and comparability in data discussed. The data collection had to deal with both coding and language problems before any analysis could be made. The experiences show several prerequisites for the success of this kind of project: an understanding of the treatment framework as a system, to anticipate and plan for problems and blockages; active involvement of staff in the project and intensive training, consultancy and support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 1981, a "research-practice" breakthrough was realized through the foundation of the European Federation of Therapeutic Communities (EFTC). Since its foundation EFTC regularly organized conferences and symposia. A few years later (in 1983), the European Workshop On Drug policy Oriented Research (EWODOR) was established at the Erasmus University in Rotterdam, including a special section devoted to the therapeutic community (TC). The authors examined the proceedings of all meetings organized by EFTC and EWODOR. The major topics presented throughout the last 20 years are highlighted in a chronological selection and these presentations largely focus on the challenges of the TC and the state of the art regarding scientific knowledge. In this overview only those authors who published articles in scientific journals indexed in the "Web of Science" (Institute for Scientific Information—ISI) were retained. Although research has never been the primary consideration in TCs, it played a far from negligible role in its development. Research findings prompted innovations and thus often provoked resistance, but on the other hand they functioned as a catalyst between the necessity of a belief system and the reality of society. The role of "grey" literature and the availability of information through the Internet will become more and more important in the communication between researchers and practitioners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Research indicates that among the risks associated with young people's alcohol and illicit drug use are sexual risks. However, insights into co-occurrence of substance use and sexual risks in adolescent samples and possible differences across countries are limited., Methods: A sample of 1449 adolescents from Belgium, Sweden, the Czech Republic, and Germany screened positive for risky alcohol/illicit drug use in a web-based intervention against alcohol and illicit drug use. They also reported incidents of sex while being drunk and/or high on drugs, condomless sex on these occasions, and sexualized touching and sexual victimization while being drunk or high on drugs., Results: In the sample, 21.5% of the participants reported sexualized touching, 9.9% being victim to sexual assault, and 49.8% having had sex while being drunk and/or high on drugs; of the latter, 48.3% had condomless sex. Reports on having had sex while being drunk and/or high on drugs were associated with higher levels of past 30-day binge drinking. Being a victim of sexual assault was associated with past 30-day binge drinking only in young men., Conclusion: When devising preventive interventions against risky substance use in adolescents, an additional focus should be set on integrating steps against sexual risks.

Aims: It is the goal of this study to investigate the first development of the drug-free therapeutic community (TC) in Europe. The paper aims at systemizing information, scattered all over Europe and is the first stage in an ongoing study to record the development of the European TC movement and its influences., Design: After a study of the grey (hidden) literature, TC pioneers and experts per country were contacted to further elaborate the first findings. Subsequently, a preliminary summary of our findings was published in the Newsletter of the European Federation of Therapeutic Communities (EFTC), inviting additional information and corrections. The authors completed the results for this article with relevant first-hand information, obtained through interviews with European pioneers., Findings: The findings are summarized under three topics: chronology, interconnections and European identity. It was found that from 1968 until 1989, a new therapeutic approach arose all over Europe, modeled after Synanon, Daytop and Phoenix House, New York, through Phoenix House, London and Emiliehoeve in the Netherlands. Therapeutic communities were established in Belgium, Finland, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Norway, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland as well. These communities were closely-knit and interconnected in their reaction against psychiatric and methadone treatment. The European TCs developed an own identity compared to the American ones., Conclusions: The European TCs adapted the model of their American predecessors to their own culture, influenced more by milieu-therapy and social learning. Instead of harsh behaviorism, more emphasis was placed on dialogue and understanding. Professionals occupied a more pivotal role and took over the dominant position of ex-addicts. Research, executed by TC professionals gradually entered the TC. A generic network of TC connections, through which the development evolved, was uncovered, and clear regional trends can be observed., (Copyright (c) 2006 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

This article aims to search for a specific female, psychiatric profile based on a large European sample of substance dependent clients (828) entering therapeutic communities. First, all six areas of functioning of the EuropASI were included, using the composite scores to search for gender differences. Next, the 'psychiatric' status section was selected for further study. A binary logistic regression was performed with gender as the dependent variable, and nine individual psychiatric items, country, and age as predictors. According to this model a number of problem variables could be identified as being reported more often by women than by men in therapeutic community treatment. Women are more likely to report serious depression, problems in understanding, concentrating or remembering, being prescribed medication, and serious thoughts about suicide; they have also attempted suicide more often than men. Women find treatment for these psychological problems more important than their male counterparts. They also have a more severe history of abuse. Women in therapeutic communities may need specific treatment interventions for their more severe psychiatric needs.