Contingency management to enhance naltrexone treatment of opioid dependence: a randomized clinical trial of reinforcement magnitude

Exp Clin Psychopharmacol. 2002 Feb;10(1):54-63. doi: 10.1037//1064-1297.10.1.54.

Abstract

Fifty-five detoxified opioid-dependent individuals were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 treatments delivered over 12 weeks: standard naltrexone maintenance, standard naltrexone plus low-value contingency management (CM), or standard naltrexone plus high-value CM. Results suggest that (a) assignment to either CM condition was associated with significant reductions in opioid use over time compared with standard naltrexone treatment; (b) contrasts of high- versus low-value reinforcement magnitude were not significant, suggesting no relative benefit of higher over lower value incentives in this population; (c) participants assigned to either CM group reported significant reductions in readiness to change compared with participants assigned to standard naltrexone treatment. These findings suggest that targeted behavioral therapies can play a substantial role in broadening the utility of available pharmacotherapies.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Naltrexone / therapeutic use*
  • Narcotic Antagonists / therapeutic use*
  • Opioid-Related Disorders / diagnosis
  • Opioid-Related Disorders / drug therapy*
  • Opioid-Related Disorders / psychology
  • Patient Compliance
  • Risk-Taking
  • Social Behavior
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Narcotic Antagonists
  • Naltrexone