title: Mediators of drug treatment outcomes.
abstract: Treatment for drug use, like the process by which a person comes to use illicit drugs, may be seen to be at least in part a psychosocial process involving emotional, cognitive, and relationship domains. Treatment programs attempt to improve the psychosocial functioning of clients with the ultimate goal of effecting change in drug-use behaviors. In a longitudinal study of clients in an intensive outpatient treatment program using a cognitive behavioral model to treat crack cocaine use, it was found that length of treatment was directly associated with improvement in emotional well-being, cognitive functioning, and relationships. Of the three psychosocial domains, improvement in relationships had the strongest effect on self-reported decreases in cocaine usage, verified by urinalysis. Improvement in cognitive functioning had a small impact on cocaine use, whereas improvement in emotional well-being had almost no independent effect in this cognitive behavioral treatment program.
authors.affiliation: Affiliated Systems Corp., Houston, TX 77027-6022, USA.
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Bell
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Richard
authors.forename: L C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Feltz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003071:Cognition; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000592:standards*; D016578:Crack Cocaine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000652:urine; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy* / Q000652:urine; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012649:Self Concept; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D016578:Crack Cocaine