title: A dose response study of cognitive behavioral therapy in cocaine abusers.
abstract: In order to evaluate the effect of frequency of counseling sessions, we studied retention, cocaine use and craving, and psychiatric symptoms of 68 cocaine-dependent outpatients randomly assigned to twice weekly, once weekly, or biweekly sessions in a 12-week treatment program that utilized manual-based, individual cognitive behavioral psychotherapy. All participants were tested and monitored twice a week. Retention was comparable among treatment groups, and improvement was found regardless of counseling frequency. Cocaine use (urine toxicology and self-report), cocaine craving (VAS), and total psychiatric symptoms (SCL-90) decreased by modest but statistically significant (p < 0.05) amounts in all treatment groups. Findings suggest that cognitive behavioral therapy is effective in reducing cocaine use even if a less intensive schedule is used.
authors.affiliation: National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Research Program, 5500 Nathan Shock Drive, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA. lcovi@intra.nida.nih.gov
authors.forename: Lino
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Covi
authors.forename: Judith M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Hess
authors.forename: Jennifer R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Schroeder
authors.forename: Kenzie L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Preston
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015142:Baltimore; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000652:urine; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008370:Manuals as Topic; D013997:Time Factors