Gouzoulis-Mayfrank, E., König, S. S., Koebke, S. S., Schnell, T. T., Schmitz-Buhl, M. M., & Daumann, J. J. (2015). Trans-Sector Integrated Treatment in Psychosis and Addiction: A Randomized Controlled Study of a Motivational, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Program Under Standard Hospital Treatment Conditions. Deutsches Ärzteblatt International, 112(41), 683–691. https://doi.org/10.3238/arztebl.2015.0683

Arizona State University

In this German study, researchers investigated the effects of integrated treatment versus standard hospital treatment in 122 adult patients in a psychiatric hospital who had been diagnosed with schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorders, or schizophreniform disorders.

A Study on Integrated Treatment for Psychotic Disorders and Substance Use Disorders

Results of this study showed that participants in the integrated treatment group were more satisfied with their treatment, had a higher motivation to remain abstinent from drugs, and were able to better control their consumption behavior. Positive trends were also indicated for retention rate and global level of functioning, with participants in the integrated treatment group showing an improvement in global level of functioning that became evident after 6 months of treatment. This suggests that the longer-term treatment and disorder-specific therapies offered may have benefited the participants in the integrated treatment group.

Results of Integrated Treatment for Comorbid Psychotic Disorders and Substance Use Disorders

Trans-Sector Integrated Treatment in Psychosis and Addiction

The control group received “treatment as usual” (TAU) which involved individual therapeutic sessions, pharmacotherapy, and other forms of cognitive and occupational therapy.

Once released from the psychiatric hospital, the control group was offered continued outpatient treatment including individual therapeutic sessions. 


Methods for Examining Integrated Treatment Efficacy- Control Group

The experimental group received integrated treatment, which involved the same treatment as the control group (individual therapy and pharmacotherapy), but they were additionally offered disorder-specific group therapies, a motivational group, and a psychoeducational group that discussed the association between various drugs and psychosis. Once released from the psychiatric hospital, the experimental group was offered continued outpatient treatment including individual therapeutic sessions and disorder-specific cognitive behavioral therapy that prompted cognitive restructuring, anti-stress skills, anti-craving skills, helped identify potential risk situations and promoted a healthy lifestyle.


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