Table 1.
Participation in self-help groups in the last six months (two years after starting).
| Regular (n = 43) | Seldom or never (n = 31) | P-value | |
| Gender: % women | 10 (23%) | 11 (35%) | 0.30 |
| Age, years (SD) | 38 (11) | 37 (9) | 0.67 |
| Diagnosis: | |||
| % F 19.2 (drug dependent) | 20 (47%) | 15 (48%) | 1.00 |
| % F 10.2 (alcohol dependent) | 23 (53%) | 16 (52%) | |
| Has injected drugs | 17 (40%) | 12 (39%) | 1.00 |
| Has previously been treated for drug misuse | 32 (74%) | 21 (68%) | 0.60 |
| Has suffered from serious depression (self reported) | 24 (56%) | 23 (74%) | 0.15 |
| Has suffered from serious anxiety (self reported) | 20 (47%) | 14 (45%) | 1.00 |
| Has attempted suicide | 10 (23%) | 13 (42%) | 0.13 |
| Has been given medication for a psychological/emotional problem | 17 (40%) | 24 (77%) | <0.01 |
| Has received professional help for psychiatric problems | 18 (42%) | 20 (65%) | 0.06 |
| Social status: | |||
| - No working income | 26 (60%) | 14 (45%) | 0.25 |
| - Cohabitant status single (n = 73) | 35 (83%) | 19 (61%) | 0.06 |
| - Homeless | 8 (19%) | 3 (10%) | 0.34 |
A comparison of the background data between those who are regular participants (≥ once a month), and those who seldom or never participate (< once a month). The cross table analysis was conducted and the P-value was obtained with the Fishers Exact Test for categorical variables and the Student t-Test for continuous variables. The figures represent numbers and proportions (n = 74).