Mini Review
Cognitive behavioral therapy treatment for drug addiction
Alya Attiah Alghamdi*
Published: 17 April, 2023 | Volume 7 - Issue 1 | Pages: 005-007
Drug addiction remains a major health concern following its devastating consequences to the users and the economy. Current statistics show a rising trend in substance abuse around the globe with approximately 284 million people engaging in drug abuse. Various approaches are used to treat the victims of drug abuse. Cognitive behavior therapy, a form of nonpharmacological intervention, has also been shown to be an effective treatment option for drug addiction. The use of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) has grown since the 1970s to become one of the most important models of psychotherapy in this decade. Various empirical studies have shown the efficacy of CBT in well-controlled trials. A total of 19 randomized trials (cases) (with over 1400 patients treated) were selected and studied. In the various cases, results showed that patients were treated for drug and substance abuse disorders with the majority being those who abused cannabis, cocaine, alcohol and other opioids. In most cases, the CBT techniques that were used for drug addiction included cognitive restructuring, relapse prevention and contingency management. Components of CBT for drug addiction include skills and training, amplification of non-substance-related activities, approaches for managing urges, drug rejection and improvement of social aptitudes. Cognitive restructuring focuses on the identification of misconceptions and influencing the way people think about themselves by eliminating distorted thinking. Relapse prevention focuses on the identification and prevention of high-risk situations that may trigger the patient to engage in drug abuse. Contingency management reinforces positive behaviors and reduces negative behaviors through the use of rewards and incentives.
Read Full Article HTML
DOI: 10.29328/journal.jatr.1001025
Cite this Article
Read Full Article PDF
Keywords:
Drug addiction; Cognitive behavior therapy; Cognitive restructuring; Relapse prevention; Contingent management
References
- United Nations (UN). World Drug Report 2022. https://www.unodc.org/unodc/data-and-analysis/world-drug-report-2022.
- Carroll KM, Kiluk BD. Cognitive behavioral interventions for alcohol and drug use disorders: Through the stage model and back again. Psychol Addict Behav. 2017 Dec;31(8):847-861. doi: 10.1037/adb0000311. Epub 2017 Aug 31. PMID: 28857574; PMCID: PMC5714654.
- Magill M, Kiluk BD, Ray LA. Efficacy of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Alcohol and Other Drug Use Disorders: Is a One-Size-Fits-All Approach Appropriate? Subst Abuse Rehabil. 2023 Feb 19;14:1-11. doi: 10.2147/SAR.S362864. PMID: 36844999; PMCID: PMC9948631.
- Wenzel A, Keith SD, Pamela A. Cognitive behavioral therapy techniques and strategies. American Psychological Association. 2016. https://www.apa.org/pubs/books/4317415
- Liese BS, Aaron T. Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy of Addictive Disorders. Guilford Publications. 2022. https://www.guilford.com/books/Cognitive-Behavioral-Therapy-of-Addictive-Disorders/Liese-Beck/9781462548842
- Magill M, Ray L, Kiluk B, Hoadley A, Bernstein M, Tonigan JS, Carroll K. A meta-analysis of cognitive-behavioral therapy for alcohol or other drug use disorders: Treatment efficacy by contrast condition. J Consult Clin Psychol. 2019 Dec;87(12):1093-1105. doi: 10.1037/ccp0000447. Epub 2019 Oct 10. PMID: 31599606; PMCID: PMC6856400.
- Fenn K, Majella B. The key principles of cognitive behavioural therapy. 2013; 6:9; 579-585. DOI: 10.1177/1755738012471029
- Trauer JM, Qian MY, Doyle JS, Rajaratnam SM, Cunnington D. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Chronic Insomnia: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Ann Intern Med. 2015 Aug 4;163(3):191-204. doi: 10.7326/M14-2841. PMID: 26054060.
- Prendergast M, Podus D, Finney J, Greenwell L, Roll J. Contingency management for treatment of substance use disorders: a meta-analysis. Addiction. 2006 Nov;101(11):1546-60. doi: 10.1111/j.1360-0443.2006.01581.x. PMID: 17034434.
- Ruiz P, Eric CS, John L. The substance abuse handbook. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. 2007. http://ndl.ethernet.edu.et/bitstream/123456789/28967/1/2422.pdf
- Persons JB, Joan D, Michael AT. Essential components of cognitive-behavior therapy for depression. 2003; 31:1; 113-122. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/327649906_Essential_Components_of_Cognitive-Behavior_Therapy_for_Depression
- McCaffrey R, Zerwekh J, Keller K. Pain management: cognitive restructuring as a model for teaching nursing students. Nurse Educ. 2005 Sep-Oct;30(5):226-30. doi: 10.1097/00006223-200509000-00012. PMID: 16170266.
- Guenzel N, Dennis M. Addiction Relapse Prevention. In StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing. 2022. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK551500/
- Clark DA. Cognitive restructuring. The Wiley Handbook of cognitive behavioral therapy. 2013;1-22. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/9781118528563.wbcbt02
- McHugh RK, Hearon BA, Otto MW. Cognitive behavioral therapy for substance use disorders. Psychiatr Clin North Am. 2010 Sep;33(3):511-25. doi: 10.1016/j.psc.2010.04.012. PMID: 20599130; PMCID: PMC2897895.
- Kauffman JF. Relapse prevention: Maintenance strategies in the treatment of addictive behaviors. Psychiatric Services. 2006; 57:8; 1222-1223. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/274152808_Relapse_Prevention--Maintenance_Strategies_in_the_Treatment_of_Addictive_Behaviour_2nd_Edition
- Bohman B, Santi A, Andersson G. Cognitive behavioral therapy in practice: therapist perceptions of techniques, outcome measures, practitioner qualifications, and relation to research. Cogn Behav Ther. 2017 Sep;46(5):391-403. doi: 10.1080/16506073.2016.1263971. Epub 2016 Dec 22. PMID: 28004984.
- Carroll KM, Ball SA, Martino S, Nich C, Babuscio TA, Nuro KF, Gordon MA, Portnoy GA, Rounsaville BJ. Computer-assisted delivery of cognitive-behavioral therapy for addiction: a randomized trial of CBT4CBT. Am J Psychiatry. 2008 Jul;165(7):881-8. doi: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2008.07111835. Epub 2008 May 1. PMID: 18450927; PMCID: PMC2562873.
- National Institutes of Health (NIH). What is Drug Addiction? 2020. https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugs-brains-behavior-science-addiction/drug-misuse-addiction#ref
- Zamboni L, Centoni F, Fusina F, Mantovani E, Rubino F, Lugoboni F, Federico A. The Effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Techniques for the Treatment of Substance Use Disorders: A Narrative Review of Evidence. J Nerv Ment Dis. 2021 Nov 1;209(11):835-845. doi: 10.1097/NMD.0000000000001381. PMID: 34698698.