Service utilization patterns as predictors of response to trauma-informed integrated treatment for women with co-occurring disorders

Objective: The current study examined whether clinical responses to an integrated treatment intervention among women with co-occurring disorders and histories of abuse varied according to their service use patterns at baseline. Methods: Data were from a national multisite integrated treatment intervention study conducted 1998 to 2003. Analyses included 999 study participants assigned to the integrated treatment group who were symptomatic at baseline. Participants' baseline service use was characterized according to five distinct baseline service use clusters. Logistic regression models estimated study participants' odds of having good clinical responses to integrated treatment at 12 months across the five service clusters. Results: Participants with high levels of psychotropic medication and medical care use at baseline had significantly lower odds than low-intensity service users of having a good response to integrated treatment at 12 months on mental health, alcohol addiction, and posttraumatic stress measures. A majority of women in this group had serious medical problems and were more likely than their counterparts with other service use patterns to have used homeless or domestic violence shelters. Conclusions: Women who used high levels of medication and medical services appear to have faced especially difficult barriers in responding well to integrated treatment. Careful assessments of their mental health, trauma, and medical treatment needs may be required as part of integrated treatment to improve their response to integrated treatment, clinical outcomes, and well-being. This information can also be used to target integrated treatment to women who are likely to respond positively and achieve meaningful improvements in their functioning.