Research Paper
Undergraduate
Disease and Food Heart Disease
Heart disease in the United States is an extremely serious issue, as a large portion of the population suffer and die from related disorders. Indeed, throughout the Western World, heart disease and its treatment have…
Peer reviewed journal articles on substance abuse disorder and mental health comorbidity
Brooks and Penn (2003) compared the effectiveness of the 12-step approach with the cognitive-behavioral (Self-Management and Recovery Training [SMART]) approach for people with a dual diagnosis of serious mental illness and substance use disorder. The 112 participants were tested in in an intensive outpatient/partial hospitalization setting and were assigned to two treatment conditions. 50 participants completed the 6-month treatment program. The participants were tested during five intermittent periods. Researchers discovered that the 12 Steps program was more efficacious in decreasing alcohol use and increasing social interactions, but that it resulted in a worsening of medical problems, health status, employment status, and psychiatric hospitalization. SMART, on the other hand, showed positive associating with finding employment and improved psychiatric status, but it resulted in increased drug (specifically marijuana) use. Both approaches showed decrease in use of alcohol and increase in life satisfaction. The participants who stayed longer with either program showed greater improvement, whilst completion of the entire program showed positive association with better financial health, less alcohol use, and fewer medical problems.