Treating Substance Abuse Disorders with Adaptive Continuing Care

More than 10 per cent of the population meets DSM-IV criteria for substance use disorders, according to recent estimates. Although effective interventions have been identified for substance abuse, a significant percentage of patients respond poorly to them. This variability in patient response highlights the need for adaptive models of care - that is, tailored interventions based on treatment algorithms that specify treatment modifications triggered by the patient's initial response and changes in symptoms. This book provides a comprehensive review of the latest research on both standard approaches to continuing care and newer adaptive models that emphasize more flexible protocols, less treatment burden and greater convenience for patients and more attention to patient preference with regard to components of care.