RELAPSE PREVENTION TREATMENT FOR COCAINE DEPENDENCE - GROUP VS INDIVIDUAL FORMAT

To investigate the role of treatment modality in relapse prevention tr eatment, 32 cocaine-dependent subjects were randomly assigned by cohor ts to group-based relapse prevention (G-RP) or individually based RP ( I-RP). The two RP formats were identical in content, consisting of 12 outpatient treatment sessions over a 2-month period immediately follow ing hospitalization. The proportion of subjects providing cocaine-free urines at the end of RP treatment did not differ between formats; how ever, G-RP subjects reported using cocaine on significantly fewer days during treatment, and experiencing fewer cocaine-related problems tha n did I-RP subjects. Follow-up data collected at 12 and 24 weeks' post treatment revealed no significant differences between RP formats on an y cocaine-use outcome measures. Regardless of therapy format, RP treat ment was related to statistically significant and sustained improvemen ts in other areas of psychosocial functioning, including addiction sev erity, coping, and craving for cocaine. The overall findings suggest t hat the efficacy of relapse prevention training is not limited by ther apy format. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.