Early Therapeutic Alliance as a Predictor of Treatment Outcome for Adolescent Cannabis Users in Outpatient Treatment

Abstract

The association of early alliance to treatment attendance and longitudinal outcomes were examined in 356 adolescents participating in a randomized clinical trial targeting cannabis use. Both patient and therapist views of alliance were examined, and outcomes were evaluated over 12 months after numerous other sources of variance were controlled. Patient-rated alliance predicted a reduction in cannabis use at three and six months and a reduction in substancerelated problem behaviors at six months. Therapistrated alliance did not predict outcomes. Neither patient nor therapist alliance ratings were associated with attendance. The findings support the important and often overlooked role that alliance can play in treating substance abusing, often delinquent, adolescents. (Am J Addict 2006;15:26-33)

Recovery among adolescents: Models for post-treatment gains in drug abuse treatments

“…Similar patterns have been found with adolescent samples. Higher problem recognition (one element of motivation) is associated with stronger counselor relationships (Garner, Godley, & Funk, 2008), and counselor relationships promote during-treatment reductions in substance use (Crits-Christoph et al, 2011) as well as improved outcomes following treatment (Diamond et al, 2006; Garnick et al, 2012). Thus, the critical elements of the recovery process likely involve sufficient retention, motivation for treatment, therapeutic relationships, and psychological functioning.…”

The impact of twelve-step program familiarity and its in-session discussion on counselor credibility

“…It is well established in the general treatment literature that the therapeutic relationship is related to positive outcomes (1) and this holds true when treating substance use disorders (2)(3)(4)(5)(6). Although various therapeutic models may have equivalent effects (7), it is common in the treatment of substance use disorders for providers to incorporate Twelve-Step Program (TSP) concepts and principles into their approach (8), and several studies have found an association between TSP participation and positive outcomes (9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14).…”

Le vécu d’adolescents toxicomanes en traitement présentant des comportements suicidaires

“…L'alliance est un élément influençant positivement la rétention en traitement ou les changements obtenus autant chez les adolescents toxicomanes (Diamond & al., 2006 ;Tetzlaff & al., 2005) que chez ceux présentant des symptômes dépressifs ayant fait une tentative de suicide (Karver & al., 2008). Le Guide de bonnes pratiques à l'intention des intervenants des centres de santé et de services sociaux (Lane, Archambault, CollinsPoulette & Camirand, 2010) indique des pistes intéressantes pour la création de l'alliance thérapeutique avec un individu en crise suicidaire, celles-ci pourraient aussi être appliquées aux jeunes toxicomanes qui présentent des comportements suicidaires.…”