Factors affecting treatment compliance in patients with substance use disorder under probation

Abstract

Objective: The present study aims to determine the factors that affecting the treatment compliance in patients with substance use disorder (SUD) under probation in terms of sociodemographics, substance use characteristics, addiction severity, perceived family support, treatment motivation and impulsiveness. Methods: In this study, 93 substance use disorder patients who were taken three-month outpatient treatment program were included consecutively. Sociodemographic Data Form, Addiction Profile Index (API), Perceived Social Support from Family Scale (PSS-Fa), Barratt Impulsiveness Scale and Treatment Motivation Questionnaire were applied to patients before the treatment program. Results: At the end of three months follow-up period 55 (59.1%) of the 93 patients were treatment-incompatible while 38 (40.9%) were treatment-compatible. When the tests results are examined; the craving subscale score of API had significantly higher and the PSS-Fa scores had significantly lower in the treatment-incompatible group than the treatment-compatible group. Conclusion: In our study, craving and low perceived family support were found to be factors affecting treatment compliance in patients with SUD on probation. These results emphasized the importance of including the family in the treatment program, evaluating craving at each session and providing pharmacological or psychotherapeutic support for craving.