Author:
Autrique Mieke,Pearce Steve,Vanderplasschen Wouter
Abstract
Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the possible impact of a randomised controlled trial on the therapeutic environment of participating therapeutic communities (TCs).
Design/methodology/approach
– The authors compared the environment in four democratic day TCs involved in a randomised trial (experimental TCs) with a similar democratic day TC not involved in the trial (the control TC) by administering the Community Oriented Environment Scale (COPES) to 28 TC members.
Findings
– TC members’ views of the real psychosocial environment at the experimental TC and control TC showed similar high levels for spontaneity, autonomy and personal problem orientation and similar intermediate levels for practical orientation and staff control. The TC members at the experimental TC rated significantly higher levels for order and organisation and clarity, while members at the control TC rated a significantly higher level for involvement.
Originality/value
– The study provided no evidence of a significant adverse impact on the culture of democratic day TCs due to participation in a randomised trial. This finding answers one of the most common arguments in the debate on the ethics of RCTs in TCs.
Subject
Psychiatry and Mental health,Clinical Psychology,Health Professions (miscellaneous),Pshychiatric Mental Health
Reference31 articles.
1. Autrique, M.
,
Vanderplasschen, W.
,
Broekaert, E.
and
Sabbe, B.
(2009), “Practitioners’ attitudes concerning evidence-based guidelines in Belgian substance abuse treatment”,
European Addiction Research
, Vol. 15 No. 1, pp. 47-55.
2. Berglund, M.
,
Thelander, S.
and
Jonsson, E.
(2003),
Treating Alcohol and Drug Abuse: An Evidence Based Review
, Wiley-VCH, Weinheim.
3. Brunt, D.
and
Hansson, L.
(2002), “Characteristics of the social environment of small group homes for individuals with severe mental illness”,
Nordic Journal of Psychiatry
, Vol. 56 No. 1, pp. 39-46.
4. Campling, P.
(2001), “Therapeutic communities”,
Advances in Psychiatric Treatment
, Vol. 7 No. 5, pp. 365-72.
5. DeLeon, G.
(2000),
The Therapeutic Community: Theory, Model and Method
, Springer, Publishing Company Inc., New York, NY.
Cited by
5 articles.
订阅此论文施引文献
订阅此论文施引文献，注册后可以免费订阅5篇论文的施引文献，订阅后可以查看论文全部施引文献