Psychiatric Bulletin (2009) 33: 404-406. doi: 10.1192/pb.bp.108.021410
© 2009 The Royal College of Psychiatrists
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Criminally invalid: the treatment outcome profile form for substance misuse

Joby Easow, Staff Grade in Addictions Psychiatry

Grays Community Drug and Alcohol Service, Grays

Sabu Varughese, Specialist Trainee in General Psychiatry

Runwell Hospital, Wickford

Jason Luty, Consultant in Addictions Psychiatry

South Essex Partnership NHS Trust, The Taylor Centre, Queensway House, Essex Street, Southend-on-Sea, Essex SS1 2RB, email: sl006h3607{at}blueyonder.co.uk

Declaration of interest

None.

AIMS AND METHOD

To audit completion of the Treatment Outcome Profile (TOP) form in individuals attending substance misuse services in England. Forms are completed at the start of treatment and every 3 months thereafter. All forms at 3-drug treatment services were inspected over 6 months.

RESULTS

Forms were inspected for 200 service users; 86% were fully completed. Two-thirds (67%) of service users had no declared funding for illicit drug use in the previous month (mean spending £988; s.e. = 149) despite denying any paid employment and criminal activity.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

The section on crime in the TOP form is unreliable and completely invalid.




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Brilliantly simple study
Joss Bray
PB Online, 16 Nov 2009 [Full text]