Attentional bias predicts heroin relapse following treatment.
OBJECTIVE
Previous studies have shown that abstinent heroin addicts exhibit an attentional bias to heroin-related stimuli. It has been suggested that attentional bias may represent a vulnerability to relapse into drug use. In the present study, the predictive value of pre-treatment attentional bias on relapse was examined in a population of abstinent heroin addicts. Further, the effect of cue exposure therapy (CET) on attentional bias was studied.


METHODS
Participants were assigned randomly to receive nine sessions of CET or placebo psychotherapy.


METHODS
An in-patient drug abuse treatment setting.


METHODS
Abstinent heroin-dependent patients.


METHODS
Participants completed the emotional Stroop task both before and after completing treatment.


RESULTS
Pre-treatment attentional bias predicted relapse at 3-month follow-up, even when controlling for self-reported cravings at the test session. Further, attentional bias was reduced in both groups after therapy, independent of treatment condition.


CONCLUSIONS
Attentional bias may tap an important component of drug dependence as it is a predictor of opiate relapse. However, CET does not specifically reduce attentional bias.
Marissen
Marlies A E
MA
Parnassia Addiction Research Centre, Parnassia Mental Health Institute, Arie de Jongstraat 25, 2553 RK The Hague, the Netherlands. m.marissen@psyq.nl
Franken
Ingmar H A
IH
Waters
Andrew J
AJ
Blanken
Peter
P
van den Brink
Wim
W
Hendriks
Vincent M
VM
D001288:Attention; D003463:Cues; D005260:Female; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009426:Netherlands; D012008:Recurrence; D012306:Risk; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology