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 a program. In this report, we 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 prescribed stay. These patients were more likely to have fewer inpatient psychiatric admissions and more job experience than those who did not complete their stay. Findings are discussed in terms of their similarities and differences to findings from traditional therapeutic communities for the singly diagnosed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]