Changes concurrent with initiation of abstinence from cocaine abuse

J Subst Abuse Treat. 1993 Nov-Dec;10(6):577-83. doi: 10.1016/0740-5472(93)90062-7.

Abstract

In an exploration of changes that occur with initiation of cocaine abstinence, this study examined treatment outcomes in four domains--behavior (cocaine use), affect (depression), cognition (schematic self-representations), and psychophysiology (reactivity to drug cues). Nineteen patients initially entered this 8-week outpatient psychopharmacotherapy trial for the treatment of cocaine dependence. Thirteen completed treatment, and eleven maintained abstinence during the last four weeks of the study. In addition to a demonstrated change in their cocaine-using behavior, these "abstainers" reported reduced depression, increased congruency with "ideal" self-schemas, increased discrepancy with "addict" self-schemas, and generally more positive self-representations. In addition, "abstainers" reported reduced posttreatment craving in the presence of cocaine cues, but evidenced no change in physiological reactivity. Implications of these findings for research and treatment are discussed.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Arousal*
  • Bupropion / therapeutic use
  • Cocaine*
  • Depression / psychology
  • Depression / rehabilitation*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Personality Inventory
  • Self Concept*
  • Substance-Related Disorders / psychology
  • Substance-Related Disorders / rehabilitation*
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Bupropion
  • Cocaine