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01-12-2013 | Original Paper

Symptoms of Depression and Successful Drug Court Completion

Authors: Natasha S. Mendoza, Jonathan R. Trinidad, Thomas H. Nochajski, Mark C. Farrell

Published in: Community Mental Health Journal | Issue 6/2013

Abstract

The majority of drug abusing offenders who need substance abuse treatment do not receive it. Although interventions like drug court increase the probability of offender success, little is known about how co-occurring psychological symptoms impact drug court treatment outcomes. Based on previous research, we hypothesized that co-occurring psychological symptoms would have a significant relationship with successful drug court completion. Using a sample of suburban drug court enrollees (n = 122), multivariate logistic regression was conducted with successful drug court completion as the outcome variable. Predictor variables included symptom counts of depression, post-traumatic stress, obsessive–compulsive disorder, panic disorder, psychosis, generalized anxiety, and social phobia. Results indicated that participants with fewer symptoms of depression were more likely to successfully complete drug court than participants with more symptoms. The present study extends previous research by demonstrating that symptoms of depression are related to poorer outcomes for drug court enrollees. Accordingly, drug courts need to address participants’ symptoms of depression to maximize success.

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Title: Symptoms of Depression and Successful Drug Court Completion
Authors: Natasha S. Mendoza
Jonathan R. Trinidad
Thomas H. Nochajski
Mark C. Farrell
Publication date: 01-12-2013
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: Community Mental Health Journal / Issue 6/2013
Print ISSN: 0010-3853
Electronic ISSN: 1573-2789
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-013-9595-5

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Symptoms of Depression and Successful Drug Court Completion

Abstract

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Abstract

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