| Abstract: | Examines the interrelationships among 5 major sets of variables (social background, intake symptoms, program type, treatment experiences, and perceptions of the environment) that are related to posttreatment functioning of alcoholic patients (alcohol consumption, rating of drinking problem, physical impairment, and occupational functioning). The sample consisted of 429 patients selected from 5 different treatment programs. All Ss completed the Community-Oriented Program Evironment Scale about 2 wks after admission to measure their perceptions of the program environment. The relative importance of each set of variables as predictors of outcome was estimated by constructing block variables, using path analyses, and partitioning the explained variance. Results show that (a) the combined explanatory power of the program-related variables is considerably more than would be expected from previous research; (b) the importance of patient background relative to intake symptoms varies with the outcome criterion being used; (c) both the treatment experiences and the patient's perceptions of the treatment environment are strong predictors of outcome; and (d) a substantial proportion of the explained variance is shared between patient-related and program-related variables, suggesting important patient-program selection and congruence effects. (22 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved) |
