Faculty Articles
Alcohol Treatment Outcome Evaluation Methodology: State of the Art 1980-1984.
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1987
Publication Title
Addictive Behaviors
Volume
12
Issue/Number
2
First Page
113
ISSN
0306-4603
Last Page
128
Abstract/Excerpt
The methodology of alcohol treatment outcome studies published during two sequential intervals from 1976 through mid-1984 is critically reviewed. Although considerable methodological improvements have occurred over time, major methodological deficiencies continue to characterize much of the literature, with inadequate reporting of subjects' pretreatment characteristics (e.g., severity of dependence) being the most striking problem. Pervasive differences across studies regarding the types of data gathered and the ways in which findings are reported seriously impede attempts to compare studies and weaken the types of conclusions that can be drawn about treatment efficacy in general. It is suggested that journal editors establish standards of reporting for follow-up studies.
DOI
10.1016/0306-4603(87)90018-9
NSUWorks Citation
Sobell, M. B.,
Brochu, S.,
Sobell, L. C.,
Roy, J.,
Stevens, J. A.
(1987). Alcohol Treatment Outcome Evaluation Methodology: State of the Art 1980-1984.. Addictive Behaviors, 12(2), 113-128.
Available at: https://nsuworks.nova.edu/cps_facarticles/84
Comments
The research on which this article is based was supported by a research contract awarded to the Addiction Research Foundation by the Department of National Defence, Canada. The opinions expressed in this paper are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Addiction Research Foundation or the Department of National Defence.