Use of the SF-36 in the Evaluation of a Drug Detoxification Program

A pre-post assessment of consecutive referrals to a drug detoxification program of a psychiatric state hospital in north-western Germany was done using 79 males & 21 females with a diagnosis of multiple substance use to see if the SF-36 questionnaire is a useful tool to evaluate the treatment outcome. Patients with severe physical &/or mental problems upon admission benefited more from treatment than patients without. SF-36 questionnaire is a useful instrument to monitor the health status & to evaluate treatment effects of drug addicts. (LC) (20 refs)