Concurrent and Predictive Validity of Drug Use and Psychiatric Diagnosis Among First-Time DUI Offenders

This article reports on a study of the concurrent and predictive validity of drug use and psychiatric diagnosis among first-time driving-while-intoxicated (DWI) offenders. The authors evaluated the prevalence, clinical correlates at program admission, and prognostic significance over a 1-year follow-up of 2 diagnostic subgroup variables (drug abuse or dependence; mood or anxiety disorder) among 290 first-time DWI offenders receiving group counseling interventions. The results showed that a lifetime diagnosis of drug abuse or dependence (42% of sample) was associated with higher levels of alcohol consumption, lower coping confidence, greater readiness to change, increased alcohol, drug, and legal problems, and more alcohol-related negative consequences at the initiation of DWI intervention. Significant decreases in drinking were noted at intervention termination for the drug diagnoses subgroup, but were not sustained at 1-year follow-up. The presence of a lifetime diagnosis of anxiety or mood disorder (30% of sample) was associated with lower coping confidence, greater readiness to change, and with greater and more enduring negative consequences of drinking both during the DWI intervention and during the 1-year follow-up period. The authors conclude that a psychiatric diagnosis might prove useful for the intervention and aftercare planning for DWI offenders to reduce recidivism and drinking.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/01456008
• Authors:
  • Palmer, Rebekka S
  • Ball, Samuel A
  • Rounsaville, Bruce J
  • O'Malley, Stephanie
• Publication Date: 2007-4

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: References;
• Pagination: pp 619-624
• Serial:
  • Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research
  • Volume: 31
  • Issue Number: 4
  • Publisher: Blackwell Publishing
  • ISSN: 0145-6008
  • EISSN: 1530-0277
  • Serial URL: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1111/(ISSN)1530-0277

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alcohol use; Automobile drivers; Behavior modification; Diagnosis; Drug use; Drunk driving; Psychiatry; Psychological aspects; Recidivism
• Uncontrolled Terms: Prognosis
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Security and Emergencies; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01076953
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Sep 27 2007 7:06AM