Placement matching for patients with alcohol use disorders using standardized assessment: a pilot study

The aims of this study were to preliminary examine the feasibility of existing placement matching guidelines from the Netherlands in the German health-care system and to pilot study procedures for a following randomized controlled trial (RCT). The study was conducted at a psychiatric clinic offering a 3-week alcohol withdrawal program. After intake, patients were assessed with the Measurements in the Addictions for Triage and Evaluation (MATE). At discharge, therapists made recommendations for referrals to further treatment. Six months after discharge, patients were interviewed by phone regarding alcohol consumption, health status, and health-care utilization. For the 54 participating patients, placement matching to one of the four levels of care (LOC) was calculated based on the MATE. Most patients were assigned to LOC2 or LOC3 (n = 44), whereas there was no significant association to the recommendations made by therapists. Among the 31 patients reached for follow-up, 3 did not receive treatment, 3 received treatment less, 9 more, and 13 exactly as intensive as predicted by the matching guidelines. The placement matching guidelines can be feasible.