This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Gerolamo, A. M. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

State of the Science: Women and the Nonpharmacological Treatment of Substance Abuse

Center for Health Outcomes and Policy Research, University of Pennsylvania, 420 Guardian Drive, Philadelphia, PA 19104, agerolam{at}nursing.upenn.edu

BACKGROUND: Substance abuse affects men and women differently, and as a result, treatment programs should be designed specific to their unique needs. The nonpharmacological treatment of substance abuse among women has been largely neglected in the literature. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this review was to analyze critically the existing literature related to the nonpharmacological treatment of substance abuse among women. The methodological rigor of existing research was critiqued and gaps in knowledge identified. DESIGN: The databases Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), PsycINFO, Sociological Abstracts, and MEDLINE were searched using the key words women and substance abuse treatment. Studies included in the review were those that were published between 1975 and 2003 and were related to the nonpharmacological treatment of substance abuse for women. RESULTS:Forty-three articles were reviewed. Evidence suggests that there are gender and cultural differences related to substance abuse. There is a dearth of research related to the effectiveness of treatment interventions designed specifically for women who abuse substances. The research that exists is limited in its theoretical foundation and methodological rigor. CONCLUSIONS: Few treatment programs reflect gender and cultural differences, leaving gaps in substance abuse treatment among women. Furthermore, existing research related to women and substance abuse treatment lacks a robust scientific foundation. Future research should be theoretically based and methodologically sound to advance the evidence base of substance abuse treatment for women.

Key Words: women • nonpharmacological substance abuse treatment

Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association, Vol. 10, No. 4, 181-189 (2004)
DOI: 10.1177/1078390304267865


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?