title: Effect of experimental analogs of contingency management treatment on cocaine seeking behavior.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Contingency management (CM) treatment is effective for treating cocaine dependence but further mechanistic studies of its efficacy are warranted. This study aimed to determine whether: (a) higher vs. lower predictable money amounts ($3 vs. $1; analogs of standard voucher-based CM) increase cocaine demand elasticity; and (b) probabilistic amounts matched for expected value with the $3-predictable amount (50% chance of $6; 25% chance of $12; and 12.5% chance of $24; analogs of prize CM) similarly affect cocaine choice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Each of 15 cocaine-dependent participants first completed a qualifying session to ensure that intranasal cocaine functioned as a reinforcer, then completed a 10-session, within-subject, randomized crossover study. During each of the 10 sessions, the participant responded on a progressive ratio schedule to earn units of cocaine (5-mg or 10-mg) and/or money (five monetary conditions above).
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the reinforcement qualifying session (10-mg vs. 0-mg units; no money alternative), cocaine choice was high. The $3-predictable amount significantly decreased cocaine choice relative to both the $1-predictable amount and the qualifying session. Cocaine-choices in the probabilistic conditions were similar to the $3 predictable condition.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings indicate that CM interventions targeted at reducing cocaine self-administration are more likely to succeed with higher value non-drug reinforcement.
authors.affiliation: Substance Abuse Research Division, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA. Electronic address: mgreen@med.wayne.edu.
authors.forename: Mark K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Greenwald
authors.affiliation: Substance Abuse Research Division, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA.
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Ledgerwood
authors.affiliation: Substance Abuse Research Division, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA.
authors.forename: Leslie H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Lundahl
authors.affiliation: Substance Abuse Research Division, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA; Department of Pharmacology, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH 43614, USA.
authors.forename: Caren L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Steinmiller
mesh_terms: D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D002755:Choice Behavior; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology; D012201:Reward
keywords: Cocaine; Contingency management; Magnitude; Probability; Self-administration