AI Article Synopsis

  • The study explores cue exposure therapy (CET) and its effects on abstinent heroin users, aiming to reduce their reactivity to drug-related cues.
  • 127 participants were divided into two groups: one receiving CET and the other receiving placebo psychotherapy treatment (PPT).
  • Although both groups reported similar decreases in craving and mood, the CET group showed higher dropout and relapse rates than the PPT group, suggesting potential risks associated with CET in this context.

Article Abstract

Background: Persistent cue reactivity to drug-related stimuli is a well-known phenomenon among abstinent drug users and has been found to be a predictor of relapse. Cue exposure therapy (CET) aims to reduce this cue reactivity by exposing abstinent drug users to conditioned drug-related stimuli while preventing their habitual response, i.e. drug use.

Methods: 127 abstinent heroin-dependent Dutch inpatients were randomized to CET (n = 65; 55 completers) and placebo psychotherapy treatment (PPT) (n = 62; 59 completers). It was examined whether CET would lead to a decrease in drug-related cue reactivity (using mixed-design ANOVA) and subsequently to lower dropout and relapse rates (using logistic regression) compared to PPT.

Results: Both groups responded with a similar decrease in self-reported cue reactivity (craving, mood). The CET group did show a significant decrease in physiological reactivity (skin conductance) compared to PPT. However, dropout and relapse rates were, contrary to our expectations, significantly higher in the CET group.

Conclusions: This is the first randomized controlled trial showing that CET, compared to a non-specific psychotherapy, might increase dropout and relapse rates among abstinent heroin-dependent clients in a drug-free setting. Caution is warranted when applying CET in this specific context.

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Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1159/000097968DOI Listing

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