Abstract Background In Portugal, as far as we know, there are no recent studies that evaluated the comparative efficacy of therapeutic modalities in addiction problems by reference to a holistic and psychosocial model of effectiveness. Objectives Using a sample of Portuguese patients in outpatient treatment for drug and alcohol abuse, this study aimed to examine if a combined treatment modality (group therapy with individual intervention) had greater overall efficacy when compared to other three types of treatment without group therapy. Methods This is a correlational and cross-sectional study using a convenience sample of patients (N = 254) from an outpatient treatment in the Intervention Service on Addictive Behaviors and Substance Dependence. At the time of data collection, the patients were attending four types of treatment, such as receiving intervention based on individual psychological counseling (n = 66); receiving individual psychiatric counseling (n = 68); receiving both individual psychological and psychiatric counseling (n = 102); and receiving not only individual counseling (i.e., psychology or psychiatry), but also attending group therapy (n = 18). Results Using MANOVA and Wilks’s multivariate test criterion, there was a significant effect of treatment modality on the global efficacy, Λ = 0.88, F(9, 603) = 3.75, p < 0.0001. Examination of mean estimates indicated that patients in a combined therapeutic modality revealed more treatment involvement compared to patients in other therapeutic modalities without group therapy. Discussion The results obtained in this study highlight the importance of integrating interventions in a collaborative way. A combined therapeutic modality, adding group therapy, was associated with positive effects, such as more levels of peer support and involvement in treatment, and increasing the individual’s probability to remain abstinent.

Resumen El manuscrito presenta los resultados de un proyecto familiar de intervención comunitaria de prevención del consumo de drogas. El proyecto se basa en dos modelos de integración: modelo estructural de Cowen y modelo ecodesarrollo, adoptando una perspectiva multicausal y guiándose por el principio metodológico de empoderamiento. Este estudio tuvo dos momentos de evaluación: (T1) una semana antes de la intervención y (T2) una semana después del final de la intervención. Se presentan los datos reunidos de 42 adultos con responsabilidades parentales y los resultados indican cambios significativos en el ámbito familiar en el aumento de la cohesión, expresividad, el control y de la orientación de las actividades recreativas. También se observa una disminución de las estrategias educativas que caracterizan los estilos autoritarios y permisivos.

Abstract The manuscript presents the results of a family and community intervention project to prevent drug use. The project was theoretically based in two integrative models - Structural Model of Cowen and Eco-Developmental Model - taking a multicausal perspective and the methodological principle of empowerment. This study had two assessment moments: (T1) a week before the intervention and (T2) a week after the end of the intervention. Data was collected from 42 adults with parenting responsibilities and the results indicate significant changes in the increase of cohesion, expressivity, control, and the increase of the orientation for recreational activities. It has also observed a decrease of the educational strategies that characterise the authoritarian and permissive styles.

Desenvolvendo prática clínica com toxicodependentes, frequentemente nos deparamos com queixas na esfera sexual. A literatura não elucida relativamente ao impacto dos factores cognitivos, nesta dinâmica. Procurando alcançar uma melhor compreensão acerca da relação entre o uso das substâncias psicoactivas e a sexualidade propusemo-nos a adaptar e validar o questionário: Substance Use and Sexual Behavior Survey (SUSBS). Estudamos 488 sujeitos toxicodependentes, utentes dos Centros de Resposta Integrada para a toxicodependência, da Administração Regional de Saúde de Portugal. A análise exploratória resultou na indicação de uma estrutura em quatro factores, que designamos: Impacto do abuso de substâncias como inibidor da sexualidade, Indissociabilidade entre abuso de substâncias e sexualidade, Impacto do abuso de substâncias como potenciador da sexualidade e Uso de substâncias como favorecedor de comportamentos sexuais de risco. Esta estrutura explica aproximadamente 65% da variância total. A análise confirmatória exibiu valores estatísticos satisfatórios. Os resultados sugerem que a versão portuguesa do SUSBS possuiu adequadas propriedades psicométricas. Apresentamos a discussão acerca da utilidade deste questionário, recomendando o seu uso na prática clínica e na investigação.

Working with drug addicts we frequently face patients complains on sexual sphere .Literature doesn't elucidate about the impact of cognitive factors. Aiming to enable a better understanding of the relation between psychoactive substance use and sexuality we proposed to adapt and validate the Substance Use and Sexual Behavior Survey (SUSBS) questionnaire. We studied 488 drug addict subjects, outpatients of the public drug addiction Portuguese centers. Exploratory factor analysis indicated a four-component structure we termed: Inhibitor impact of substance of abuse in sexuality, Indissociability of sexuality and substance use, Enhancer impact of substance in sexuality, Substance use favoring risky sexual behaviors, explained approximately 65% of the total variance. The confirmatory factor analysis exhibited overall fits. The results suggested that the Portuguese version of the SUSBS has adequate psychometric properties. We present a discussion in terms of the questionnaire utility, recommend its use for clinical and research purposes.

Background Practitioners need brief instruments to monitor outcomes in both treatment of drugs and alcohol addiction because they are useful to guide decision making in a short time.Objectives This study aims to develop a brief questionnaire, based on Client Evaluation of Self and Treatment, to evaluate the treatment effectiveness in drug and alcohol addiction treatment settings.Methods A cross-sectional study using a convenience sample (N = 608) recruited from Division for Intervention on Addictive Behaviours and Dependencies (DICAD – ARS North).Results The results show a new four-factor solution that accounted for 54.4% of the total variance and that provides the best fit to the data (c2/df = 1.72, CFI = .94, GFI = .91, RMSEA = .048 [.040-.057]; prmsea = .623). It also revealed a high internal consistency (a = .82). It was found a significant negative correlation (r = - .52, p < .01) between the final version of the instrument and a self report measure of psychopathology symptoms.Discussion This brief questionnaire, with good psychometric properties, can be useful to provide a viable and rapid feedback of treatment outcomes. Further studies should be performed to continue the evaluation of the reliability of this measure.

Aplicou-se a Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) a uma amostra de 501 adolescentes, dos quais 231 (46,1%) eram do género masculino e 270 (53,9%) do género feminino, que frequentam o ensino básico e secundário na região interior Norte do País. Procedeu-se ao estudo das características psicométricas da referida escala, que no presente estudo apresentou uma consistência interna considerada satisfatória e uma estrutura factorial bidimensional, que explicava 46% da variância total. A análise factorial confirmatória corroborou o modelo de dois factores. Foi encontrada uma auto-estima global mais elevada no género masculino.

The Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) was completed by 501 adolescents, 231(46, 1%) male and 270 (53, 9%) female, that attend the elementary and secondary school, in the interior North of the Portugal. We have made the study of the psychometric characteristics of the above-mentioned scale, which, in the present study presented a reability considered satisfactory and a bi-dimensional factorial structure, which explains (46%) of the total variance. Confirmatory factor analyses have produced the similarly results. The differences related to the gender show that the level of self-esteem is higher in boys.