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Lower Cortisol a Possible Predictor of SUD Treatment Program Retention
Lower initial cortisol levels may serve as a predictor for retention in abstinence-based substance use disorder treatment programs, according to a new study by researchers at the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine in collaboration with Recovery Point of West Virginia, a long-term residential treatment program based on a peer-driven model of recovery.
Findings from the study were published in the journal Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research.
The research project looked at the salivary cortisol, stress exposure, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), and treatment retention of males who were enrolled in abstinence-based, residential drug and alcohol recovery programs.
Researchers found that participants who remained in treatment for less than 90 days had significantly higher initial cortisol levels than those who remained longer than 90 days. Moreover, elevated salivary cortisol, marital/relationship status, and ACEs scores showed significant correlation with hazards of discontinuing treatment early.
“Our hope is that these findings will lead to cortisol as a biomarker that can help clinicians determine which individuals might need a more intensive therapeutic approach,” Todd H. Davies, PhD, associate director of research and development at the Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine and corresponding author on the study, said in a news release.
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