Criminally invalid: the treatment outcome profile form for substance misuse

AIMS AND METHOD To audit completion of the Treatment Outcome Profile (TOP) form in individuals attending substance misuse services in England. Forms are completed at the start of treatment and every 3 months thereafter. All forms at 3-drug treatment services were inspected over 6 months. RESULTS Forms were inspected for 200 service users; 86% were fully completed. Two-thirds (67%) of service users had no declared funding for illicit drug use in the previous month (mean spending £988; s.e. = 149) despite denying any paid employment and criminal activity. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS The section on crime in the TOP form is unreliable and completely invalid.