Impact of Co-occurring Treatment Program on Participant Perceived Quality of Life

Abstract

The purpose of this treatment program evaluation study was to determine the impact of client perception of quality of life before and after participating in a co-occurring disorders (COD) program at a chemical dependency clinic in the northeastern United States. Quality of life was measured using the Quality of Life Survey (QOLS), a 16-question assessment, in a pre-test and post-test format. Participants in the COD program participated in both individual and group therapy utilizing Dialectical Behavior Therapy and Seeking Safety modalities. While the size of the convenience was small, improvement in perceived quality of life was shown in all QOLS domains and the overall scoring revealed a marked increase in client perception of their quality of life. The findings of this study confirm that treating co-occurring mental illness and substance use disorders in a single setting is beneficial to clients, not only helping them in their attempts to remain substance free, but improving their quality of life.