Acute and protracted cocaine abstinence in an outpatient population: A prospective study of mood, sleep and withdrawal symptoms

This study addresses unresolved questions about cocaine withdrawal by prosp ectively assessing monitored cocaine abstinence over 28 days in a sample of 24 male and female cocaine-dependent outpatients. Based on results from ur ine drug screens and self-reported substance use, it is likely that these p atients were abstinent from cocaine during the assessment period. Abstinenc e-related symptoms were monitored at 2, 5, 10, 14, 21, and 28 days followin g last cocaine use. For patients who were known to relapse, assessments beg an again after the last day of cocaine use. Consistent with findings from i npatient studies of cocaine abstinence, linear improvements in negative aff ect, low cocaine craving, and increases in cognitive skills were reported o ver the 28 days. Also consistent with inpatient studies of cocaine withdraw al, a phasic withdrawal syndrome was not observed in this outpatient sample . Unlike inpatient studies, no disturbances in sleep were reported. (C) 200 0 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.