Shaping cocaine abstinence by successive approximation

Citation
Kl. Preston et al., Shaping cocaine abstinence by successive approximation, J CONS CLIN, 69(4), 2001, pp. 643-654
Citations number
41
Categorie Soggetti
Psycology
Journal title
JOURNAL OF CONSULTING AND CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY
ISSN journal
0022006X → ACNP
Volume
69
Issue
4
Year of publication
2001
Pages
643 - 654
Database
ISI
SICI code
0022-006X(200108)69:4<643:SCABSA>2.0.ZU;2-J
Abstract
Cocaine-using methadone-maintenance patients were randomized to standard co ntingency management (abstinence group, n = 49) or to a contingency designe d to increase contact with reinforcers (shaping group, n = 46). For 8 weeks , both groups earned escalating-value vouchers based on thrice-weekly urina lyses: The abstinence group earned vouchers for cocaine-negative urines onl y; the shaping group earned vouchers for each urine specimen with a 25% or more decrease in cocaine metabolite (first 3 weeks) and then for negative u rines only (last 5 weeks). Cocaine use was lower in the shaping group, but only in the last 5 weeks, when the response requirement was identical. Thus , the shaping contingency appeared to better prepare patients for abstinenc e. A 2nd phase of the study showed that abstinence induced by escalating-va lue vouchers can be maintained by a nonescalating schedule, suggesting that contingency management, can be practical as a maintenance treatment.