Abstract:
After the implementation of low threshold ward of opiate detoxication in the 1990s in Germany, there was a complete change in clinical drug treatment. However, especially the therapy of women is only at the beginning. Data show that women rarely search clinical treatment and, if they do, they often break off. In literature, there is a correlation between break off, self esteem, body awareness, female identification, previous times of abstinence, and the course of withdrawal.
This study wants to verify these results for the patients of the University Hospital of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy of Tuebingen, Germany. Further, there was an interest in gender differences concerning anamnesis, social situation, current treatment, self-assessment and the prognosis of therapy. During September 2002 and August 2003, 34 patients, 17 women and men, were interviewed during the seventh and tenth day of their inpatient therapy.
It was found that there are no definite predictors to forecast the end of a clinical treatment. In fact there seem to be several factors in anamnesis, social situation, current treatment and self-assessment that favour a regular ending of therapy. These factors are: a solid partnership with a non-addicted partner, an understated criminal history with little prior imprisonment, and a critical examination of the actual situation during the therapy. Contrary to literature, an early start of addiction showed to be a fortunate predictor concerning regular therapy ending. On the other hand, education seemed to have less importance than expected.
Further research with larger populations is required to develop means for resource-activating, supportive, and aim-oriented interventions matching the specific needs of women. These interventions should be implemented in the first two weeks because this seems to be the most vulnerable period in female therapy. That way gender specific arrangements could increase the percentage of regularly finished inpatient treatments of women.