Psychoeducation for personality disorders as an add‐on to substance abuse treatment versus attention placebo: a controlled trial

Abstract

Assessment of personality disorders in substance abusing patients may produce important insights. Little is known about the value of routine personality disorder assessment in a clinical context. Adults with past‐year substance dependence seeking treatment at a centralised intake unit for substance abusers in the City of Copenhagen were randomised to assessment of personality disorders and individual psychoeducation vs. attention placebo (n=75). All patients received psychoeducation for attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD) and anxiety/depression when indicated. Patients were followed at three and six months post‐treatment. The psychoeducation for personality disorder did not result in improved functioning. Significant differences indicated a larger drop in substance use in the experimental group. Assessing personality disorders and providing psychoeducation is a promising treatment in a clinical context. There is a need for relevant treatment options to improve functioning and quality of life for this group of patients.

Citation

Hesse, M. (2010), "Psychoeducation for personality disorders as an add‐on to substance abuse treatment versus attention placebo: a controlled trial", Drugs and Alcohol Today, Vol. 10 No. 1, pp. 25-32. https://doi.org/10.5042/daat.2010.0125