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The relationship between length of stay in drug‐free therapeutic communities and neurocognitive functioning
Author(s) -
Falsstewart William,
Schafer John
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
journal of clinical psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.124
H-Index - 119
eISSN - 1097-4679
pISSN - 0021-9762
DOI - 10.1002/1097-4679(199207)48:4<539::aid-jclp2270480416>3.0.co;2-i
Subject(s) - neurocognitive , wechsler adult intelligence scale , psychology , neuropsychology , therapeutic community , clinical psychology , substance abuse , psychiatry , cognition
The relationship between neurocognitive functioning and length of stay in drug‐free therapeutic communities (TCs) was investigated. The Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) was administered to 495 patients admitted to a therapeutic community. It was hypothesized that Digit Symbol and Block Design, which have been found to be more sensitive to diffuse neuropsychological impairment than other WAIS subtests, would be significant predictors of length of stay. A hierarchical regression analysis was performed, and both subtests were found to be predictive of time‐in‐residence. These findings are congruent with recent investigations that have found a relationship between cognitive impairment and treatment process and outcome in substance abuse treatment.