BackgroundAntisocial personality disorder often co-exists with drug and alcohol use disorders.MethodsThis trial examined the effectiveness of offering psycho-education for antisocial personality disorder in community substance use disorder treatment centers in Denmark. A total of 176 patients were randomly allocated to treatment as usual (TAU, n = 80) or TAU plus a psycho-educative program, Impulsive Lifestyle Counselling (ILC, n = 96) delivered by site clinicians (n = 39). Using follow-up interviews 3 and 9 months after randomization, we examined changes in drug and alcohol use (Addiction Severity Index Composite Scores), percent days abstinent (PDA) within last month, and aggression as measured with the Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire-Short Form and the Self-Report of Aggression and Social Behavior Measure.ResultsOverall engagement in psychological interventions was modest: 71 (76 %) of participants randomized to psycho-education attended at least one counselling session, and 21 (23 %) attended all six sessions. The Median number of sessions was 2. All patients reduced drug and alcohol problems at 9 months with small within-group effect sizes. Intention-to-treat analyses indicated significant differences between ILC and TAU in mean drugs composite score (p = .018) and in PDA (p = .041) at 3 months. Aggression declined in both groups, but no differences between ILC and TAU were observed in terms of alcohol problems or aggression at any follow-up.ConclusionsModerate short-term improvements in substance use were associated with randomization to Impulsive Lifestyle Counselling. The findings support the usefulness of providing psycho-education to outpatients with antisocial personality disorder.Trial registrationISRCTN registry, ISRCTN67266318, 17/7/2012Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12888-015-0661-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

No abstract

BackgroundPeople in treatment for substance use disorder commonly have comorbid personality disorders, including antisocial personality disorder. Little is known about treatments that specifically address comorbid antisocial personality disorder.MethodsSelf-rated help received for antisocial personality disorder was assessed during follow-ups at 3, 9 and 15 months post-randomization of a randomized trial of psychoeducation for people with comorbid substance use and antisocial personality disorder (n = 175).ResultsRandomization to psychoeducation was associated with increased perceived help for antisocial personality disorder. Perceived help for antisocial personality disorder was in turn associated with more days abstinent and higher treatment satisfaction at the 3-month follow-up, and reduced risk of dropping out of treatment after the 3-month follow-up, and perceived help mediated the effects of random assignment on days abstinent at 3-month.follow-up.ConclusionsBrief psychoeducation for antisocial personality disorder increased patients’ self-rated help for antisocial personality disorder in substance abuse treatment, and reporting having received help for antisocial personality disorder was in turn associated with better short-term outcomes, e.g., days abstinent, dropout from treatment and treatment satisfaction.Trial registrationISRCTN registry, ISRCTN67266318, retrospectively registered 17/7/2012.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12888-016-1165-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

No abstract

Based on the Integrated Psychological Therapy (IPT) for schizophrenia patients, the Berne group developed three specific cognitive behaviour therapy programmes for treating residential, vocational, and recreational functioning. We added new cognitive-emotional methods to these programmes that were devised especially for schizophrenia patients, taking into consideration the criticism of traditional social skill training methods. In the present multicentre study, these new programmes (experimental group) were compared with a traditional social skills training programme (control group, IPT "Social Skills" subprogramme). Both the therapy and aftercare phase each lasted 12 weeks and the follow-up phase 1 year. Assessment instruments covered psychopathology, cognitive functioning, and social adjustment. Higher ratings of global treatment effects and significant reductions in symptoms were obtained in the experimental group. In view of the favourable results, these newly designed social skill training programmes may replace more conventional therapy approaches in the future.