CHANGES CONCURRENT WITH INITIATION OF ABSTINENCE FROM COCAINE ABUSE

In an exploration of changes that occur with initiation of cocaine abs tinence, this study examined treatment outcomes in four domains-behavi or (cocaine use), affect (depression), cognition (schematic self-repre sentations), and psychophysiology (reactivity to drug cues). Nineteen patients initially entered this 8-week outpatient psychopharmacotherap y trial for the treatment of cocaine dependence. Thirteen completed tr eatment, and eleven maintained abstinence during the last four weeks o f the study. In addition to a demonstrated change in their cocaine-usi ng behavior, these ''abstainers'' reported reduced depression, increas ed congruency with ''ideal'' self-schemas, increased discrepancy with ''addict'' self-schemas, and generally more positive self-representati ons. In addition, ''abstainers'' reported reduced posttreatment cravin g in the presence of cocaine cues, but evidenced no change in physiolo gical reactivity. Implications of these findings for research and trea tment are discussed.