Effectiveness of DT

• STRENGTH:

  Antipsychotics effective as drug treatment

  Evidence:Cole

  -75% given conventional antipsychotics, many improved, none got worse

  -25% given a placebo, 48% got worse

  Explain: One of the first to show schizophrenia can be created using drugs

  -doesn't have to lock people in institutions
• STRENGTH:

  Agonist substitution is effective

  Evidence: Van Dor Brin

  -methadone in adequate dose is effective at maintaining opioid abstinence

  Explain: Retains the addicts on their treatment therefore prevents relapse
• WEAKNESS:

  Not effective if people don’t comply

  Evidence: Rettenbacher 

  -only 54% fully comply with antipsychotic medication due to side effects, lack of understanding of importance

  Explain: Can't work properly if people don't engage
• WEAKNESS:

  Doesn’t effectively treat root of problem, only symptoms 

  Evidence: Doesn’t resolve any underlying issue causing addiction in the first place, therefore doesn’t cure 

  -remain on methadone long term

  Explain:Not effective cure, just controls symptoms
• Effectiveness-Conclusions

  DT may help with severe symptoms of conditions such as schizophrenia such as hallucinations

  DT may be an effective way for an addict o kick start abstinence

  However, DT does not deal with the root cause of issue so it isn't a long term cure

  It is better if it is combined with other therapies that help psychological reasons for disorders