Makin-Byrd K, Cronkite RC, Timko C The influence of abuse victimization on attendance and involvement in mutual-help groups among dually diagnosed male veterans. J Subst Abuse Treat. 2011 Jul;41(1):78-87. doi: 10.1016/j.jsat.2011.02.001. Epub 2011 Mar 10
Timko C, Cronkite RC, McKellar J, Zemore S, Moos RH Dually diagnosed patients' benefits of mutual-help groups and the role of social anxiety. J Subst Abuse Treat. 2013 Feb;44(2):216-23. doi: 10.1016/j.jsat.2012.05.007. Epub 2012 Jul 3.
Timko C, Sutkowi A, Moos R Patients with dual diagnoses or substance use disorders only: 12-step group participation and 1-year outcomes. Subst Use Misuse. 2010 Mar;45(4):613-27. doi: 10.3109/10826080903452421.
Timko C Detoxification history and two-year outcomes of substance use disorder treatment and mutual-help group participation. Journal of drug issues. 2013 Jun 17; 20(10):1-18.
Dual Diagnosis Self-Help Group Referral: Outcomes and Services Use
Interventional studies are often prospective and are specifically tailored to evaluate direct impacts of treatment or preventive measures on disease.
Observational studies are often retrospective and are used to assess potential causation in exposure-outcome relationships and therefore influence preventive methods.
Expanded access is a means by which manufacturers make investigational new drugs available, under certain circumstances, to treat a patient(s) with a serious disease or condition who cannot participate in a controlled clinical trial.
Clinical trials are conducted in a series of steps, called phases - each phase is designed to answer a separate research question.
Phase 1: Researchers test a new drug or treatment in a small group of people for the first time to evaluate its safety, determine a safe dosage range, and identify side effects.
Phase 2: The drug or treatment is given to a larger group of people to see if it is effective and to further evaluate its safety.
Phase 3: The drug or treatment is given to large groups of people to confirm its effectiveness, monitor side effects, compare it to commonly used treatments, and collect information that will allow the drug or treatment to be used safely.
Phase 4: Studies are done after the drug or treatment has been marketed to gather information on the drug's effect in various populations and any side effects associated with long-term use.