Therapeutic Components and Differential Treatment Outcomes Among Clients of Israeli Services for Substance Abusers

Abstract

Objective: This study is the first in a comprehensive examination of therapeutic components and outcome of interventions in a public, nonresidential service for drug addicts in Jerusalem (SHALEM). Method: Data were gathered from 153 clients (35 women, 128 men; 35 Arabs, 118 Jews; median age = 39) using clinical data mining. Results: Men who had been child victims of physical abuse (60%) showed less progress in treatment than men reporting no abuse. Arabs showed greater improvement in reducing violent acts. Only four therapeutic components were significant predictors of a client’s treatment outcomes. Conclusion: Processing of trauma history must become a major therapeutic component, and differential treatment plans for women and men and different ethnic groups should be developed.