Comparison of three outpatient treatment interventions: a twelve-month follow-up of men alcoholics.

Men inpatient alcoholics (N = 174) from a Veterans Administration medical center who were preselected by employment status were randomly assigned to one of three outpatient treatment interventions: (1) medication only, (2) active support or (3) untreated medical monitoring. Subjects were followed monthly for 1 year, with an 85% 12-month follow-up rate. Although the sample as a whole showed reduced alcohol misuse and improved social functioning after 12 months, the specific form of treatment was unrelated to outcome. These findings suggest that the intensity of the outpatient treatment experience is not related to outcome and that time-consuming interventions are not differentially cost-effective.