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Cited by 1,055Substance Abuse Treatment and OutcomesPsychotherapy Techniques and ApplicationsOpioid Use Disorder Treatment

Substance abuse treatment entry, retention, and outcome in women: a review of the literature

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Greenfield, Shelly F., Brooks, Audrey J., Gordon, Susan M., Green, Carla A., Kropp, Frankie, McHugh, R. Kathryn, Lincoln, Melissa, Hien, Denise +1 more·2007·Drug and Alcohol Dependence
DOI 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2006.05.012PMC PMC3532875
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Abstract

This paper reviews the literature examining characteristics associated with treatment outcome in women with substance use disorders. A search of the English language literature from 1975 to 2005 using Medline and PsycInfo databases found 280 relevant articles. Ninety percent of the studies investigating gender differences in substance abuse treatment outcomes were published since 1990, and of those, over 40% were published since the year 2000. Only 11.8% of these studies were randomized clinical trials. A convergence of evidence suggests that women with substance use disorders are less likely, over the lifetime, to enter treatment compared to their male counterparts. Once in treatment, however, gender is not a significant predictor of treatment retention, completion, or outcome. Gender-specific predictors of outcome do exist, however, and individual characteristics and treatment approaches can differentially affect outcomes by gender. While women-only treatment is not necessarily more effective than mixed-gender treatment, some greater effectiveness has been demonstrated by treatments that address problems more common to substance-abusing women or that are designed for specific subgroups of this population. There is a need to develop and test effective treatments for specific subgroups such as older women with substance use disorders, as well as those with co-occurring substance use and psychiatric disorders such as eating disorders. Future research on effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of gender-specific versus standard treatments, as well as identification of the characteristics of women and men who can benefit from mixed-gender versus single-gender treatments, would advance the field.

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Authors
Greenfield, S. F., Brooks, A. J., Gordon, S. M., Green, C. A., Kropp, F., McHugh, R. K., Lincoln, M., Hien, D., & Miele, G. M.
Affiliations
  • Harvard University (US)
  • University of Arizona (US)
  • Seabrook (US)
  • Kaiser Permanente (US)
  • University of Cincinnati (US)
  • McLean Hospital (US)
  • Columbia University (US)
Corresponding author
Greenfield, Shelly F.
ORCID
Venue
Drug and Alcohol Dependence
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2007-01
Volume
86
Issue
1
Pages
1-21
ISSN
0376-8716 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2006.05.012
PMC
PMC3532875
OpenAlex
W2090169982
Cited by
1,055
References
245
Citations by year
2026: 36 · 2025: 50 · 2024: 43 · 2023: 53 · 2022: 60 · 2021: 79 · 2020: 81 · 2019: 77 · 2018: 60 · 2017: 67 · 2016: 66 · 2015: 66 · 2014: 56 · 2013: 64 · 2012: 48
FWCI
2.49
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
Locations
  • Drug and Alcohol Dependence (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health (5k24da019855-10, 5u10da013043-15)
  • National Institute on Drug Abuse (DA 019855, U10-DA-013043, U10 DA99004, U10DA013035, U10DA13043, K24-DA019855, U10DA013732, U10DA015815, DA15434, U10DA015831, R01DA015434)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychotherapy Techniques and Applications
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Opioid Use Disorder Treatment
Keywords
substance use disorders, women, gender differences, treatment entry, treatment retention, treatment outcomes, predictors of treatment outcome, older women, co-occurring psychiatric disorders, eating disorders, cost-effectiveness
MeSH terms
Adult, Age Factors, Female, Hospitalization, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Retention, Psychology, Sex Factors, Treatment Outcome, Substance-Related Disorders

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