Predicting compliance of dual diagnosis inpatients with aftercare treatment.

OBJECTIVE Patients with comorbid diagnoses of a substance use disorder and at least one other axis I mental disorder have low rates of compliance with aftercare. The purpose of the study was to identify predictors of noncompliance among dual diagnosis inpatients. METHODS Characteristics of 48 dual diagnosis inpatients were examined. Compliance was defined as visiting the aftercare site at least three times. RESULTS Persons with a diagnosis of cocaine dependence were significantly more likely to be noncompliant with aftercare than those with a diagnosis of cocaine abuse. Patients with a discharge diagnosis of any type of depression were more likely to be noncompliant than those without such a diagnosis. During inpatient treatment, patients who were subsequently noncompliant with aftercare showed more erratic patterns of privilege loss and gain. CONCLUSIONS Knowledge of factors related to noncompliance with aftercare may lead to better intervention with dual diagnosis patients.