Coping and self-efficacy in marijuana treatment: results from the marijuana treatment project

This study examined whether a coping-skills-based treatment for marijuana dependence operated by encouraging the use of coping skills or via other mechanisms. Participants were 450 men and women treated in the multisite Marijuana Treatment Project who were randomly assigned to motivational enhancement therapy plus cognitive-behavioral (MET-CB) treatment, motivational enhancement therapy (MET), or a delayed treatment control group. Marijuana use and coping skills were measured at baseline and at follow-ups through 15 months. Results showed that marijuana outcomes were predicted by treatment type and by coping skills use, but that the coping-skills-oriented MET-CB treatment did not result in greater use of coping skills than did the MET treatment. The results suggest that mechanisms of coping skills treatment may need to be reconceptualized.     

Internet-guided self-help with or without exposure therapy for phobic and panic disorders

BACKGROUND: As many sufferers from phobic and panic (phobia/panic) disorders cannot get to suitable therapists, routine aspects of therapy were delegated to internet-accessed computer-aided self-help with or without exposure instructions. METHODS: Phobia/panic referrals were randomised to computer-aided self-help via the internet at home in a 2:1 ratio either by self-exposure cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) [FearFighter (FF), n = 45] or by minimal CBT without exposure [Managing Anxiety (MA), n = 23]. All had brief backup phone advice from a clinician concerning their computer guidance. RESULTS: On self-ratings and blinded assessor ratings, patients improved equally with each form of self-help over 10 treatment weeks but significantly more on 5 out of 10 measures by week 14 (1-month follow-up) when the self-help included self-exposure instructions than when it did not. In accord with this, standardised effect sizes (Cohen's d) indicated superiority of FF over MA on 5 measures by week 14. Satisfaction with treatment in all patients pooled correlated positively with improvement after treatment and at 1-month follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: At the end of treatment, computer-aided CBT self-help at home via the internet plus brief live helpline support was effective with or without exposure instructions, and at 1-month follow-up it was more effective on some measures if exposure instructions had been included. Analysis is needed of how non-exposure CBT produced its shorter-term effect.     

Treatment responsivity of cocaine-dependent patients with antisocial personality disorder to cognitive-behavioral and contingency management interventions

This study compared the efficacy of 2 approaches for the treatment of cocaine dependence among methadone-maintained patients with and without antisocial personality disorder (ASPD). Patients were randomly assigned to 4 study conditions: cognitive-behavioral treatment (CBT), contingency management (CM), CBT with CM, or methadone maintenance. The Structural Clinical Interview for Mental Disorders-IV was administered to 108 patients to assess ASPD. A 2-way analysis of variance showed that patients with ASPD were more likely to abstain from cocaine use during treatment than patients without ASPD. The strong treatment effect for ASPD patients was primarily due to the CM condition. Regression analyses showed that ASPD remained significantly related to CM treatment responsivity while controlling for other factors.     

A randomized trial of brief interventions for problem and pathological gamblers

Limited research exists regarding methods for reducing problem gambling. Problem gamblers (N = 180) were randomly assigned to assessment only control, 10 min of brief advice, 1 session of motivational enhancement therapy (MET), or 1 session of MET plus 3 sessions of cognitive-behavioral therapy. Gambling was assessed at baseline, at 6 weeks, and at a 9-month follow-up. Relative to assessment only, brief advice was the only condition that significantly decreased gambling between baseline and Week 6, and it was associated with clinically significant reductions in gambling at Month 9. Between Week 6 and Month 9, MET plus cognitive-behavioral therapy evidenced significantly reduced gambling on 1 index compared with the control condition. These results suggest the efficacy of a very brief intervention for reduction of gambling among problem and pathological gamblers who are not actively seeking gambling treatment.     

Nurse-led psychological interventions to improve diabetes control: Assessing competencies

Objective

To assess whether medical nurses can deliver motivational enhancement therapy (MET) and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) to a competent level and whether treatment fidelity is maintained.

Methods

Training consisted of classroom teaching, written materials, a training caseload, and audio-visual feedback. We used the Motivational Interviewing Treatment Integrity (MITI), the Revised 12-item Cognitive Therapy Scale (CTS-R), and components of the Motivational Interviewing Skill Code (MISC) to assess competency and treatment fidelity. Two independent clinical psychologists who were blind to the allocation rated a random selection of 40 sessions.

Results

Six nurses were trained in both interventions. For the MET the mean (SD) scores for empathy and spirit on the MITI scale were 5.1 (0.7) and 4.6 (1.0) respectively and for CBT the total mean (SD) CTS-R score was 52.1 (7.5), which was acceptable competency in both treatments. The two interventions were distinguishable.

Conclusion

Results suggest that nurses can be trained to deliver diabetes-specific MET and CBT competently and maintain treatment fidelity.

Practice implications

Findings of this study provide preliminary evidence to suggest that nurse-led psychological interventions could be incorporated into the traditional diabetes setting.     

Child and Adolescent Adherence With Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Anxiety: Predictors and Associations With Outcomes

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for anxiety disorders is effective, but nonadherence with treatment may reduce the benefits of CBT. This study examined (a) four baseline domains (i.e., demographic, youth clinical characteristics, therapy related, family/parent factors) as predictors of youth adherence with treatment and (b) the associations between youth adherence and treatment outcomes. Data were from 279 youth (7–17 years of age, 51.6% female; 79.6% White, 9% African American), with Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed., text rev.) diagnoses of separation anxiety disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and/or social phobia, who participated in CBT in the Child/Adolescent Anxiety Multimodal Study. Adherence was defined in three ways (session attendance, therapist-rated compliance, and homework completion). Multiple regressions revealed several significant predictors of youth adherence with CBT, but predictors varied according to the definition of adherence. The most robust predictors of greater adherence were living with both parents and fewer youth comorbid externalizing disorders. With respect to outcomes, therapist ratings of higher youth compliance with CBT predicted several indices of favorable outcome: lower anxiety severity, higher global functioning, and treatment responder status after 12 weeks of CBT. Number of sessions attended and homework completion did not predict treatment outcomes. Findings provide information about risks for youth nonadherence, which can inform treatment and highlight the importance of youth compliance with participating in therapy activities, rather than just attending sessions or completing homework assignments.     

Adding voucher-based incentives to coping skills and motivational enhancement improves outcomes during treatment for marijuana dependence

Sixty individuals seeking outpatient treatment for marijuana dependence were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 treatments: motivational enhancement (M), M plus behavioral coping skills therapy (MBT), or MBT plus voucher-based incentives (MBTV). In the voucher-based incentive program, participants earned vouchers exchangeable for retail items contingent on them submitting cannabinoid-negative urine specimens. MBTV engendered significantly greater durations of documented marijuana abstinence during treatment compared with MBT and M, and a greater percentage of participants in the MBTV group compared with the MBT or M groups were abstinent at the end of treatment. No significant differences in marijuana abstinence were observed between the MBT and M groups. The positive effects of the voucher program in this study support the utility of incentive-based interventions for the treatment of substance dependence disorders including marijuana dependence.     

Strike while the iron is hot: can stepped-care treatments resurrect relapsing smokers?

The efficacies of 2 group counseling step-up treatments for smoking cessation, cognitive-behavioral/skill training therapy (CBT) and motivational interviewing/supportive (MIS) therapy, were compared with brief intervention (BI) treatment in a sample of 677 smokers. Differential efficacy of the 2 step-up treatments was also tested in smokers at low and high risk for relapse (no smoking vs. any smoking during the first postquit week. respectively). All participants received 8 weeks of nicotine patch therapy. BI consisted of 3 brief individual cessation counseling sessions; CBT and MIS participants received BI treatment and 6 group counseling sessions. Neither CBT nor MIS treatment improved long-term abstinence rates relative to BI. Limited support was found for the hypothesis that high-risk smokers would benefit more from MIS than CBT. Other hypotheses were not supported.     

Alcoholism treatment after liver transplantation: lessons learned from a clinical trial that failed

Alcoholic liver disease is the second most common indication for liver transplantation in the United States. The lack of alcoholism treatment studies led us to study motivational enhancement therapy (MET) plus naltrexone after transplant. The authors could not complete this study. Sixty alcoholic patients were to receive MET plus naltrexone or placebo for 6 months. Fifty men and 5 women were screened. Nine died and 15 were not approached. Of 31 approached, 20 were ineligible, 11 refused, and 5 entered but dropped out before completion. Barriers to posttransplant alcoholism included infirmity, intensive medical management, and denial for alcoholism treatment. Because 30%-50% of alcoholic patients drink after transplant, the authors suggest using MET alone pretransplant.     

Rapid response to treatment for binge eating disorder

The authors examined rapid response among 108 patients with binge eating disorder (BED) who were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 16-week treatments: fluoxetine, placebo, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) plus fluoxetine, or CBT plus placebo. Rapid response, defined as 65% or greater reduction in binge eating by the 4th treatment week, was determined by receiver operating characteristic curves. Rapid response characterized 44% of participants and was unrelated to participants' demographic or baseline characteristics. Participants with rapid response were more likely to achieve binge-eating remission, had greater improvements in eating-disorder psychopathology, and had greater weight loss than participants without rapid response. Rapid response had different prognostic significance and distinct time courses for CBT versus pharmacotherapy-only treatments. Rapid response has utility for predicting outcomes and provides evidence for specificity of treatment effects with BED.     

Prize reinforcement contingency management for cocaine dependence: integration with group therapy in a methadone clinic

In this study, the authors evaluated a low-cost contingency management (CM) procedure for reducing cocaine use and enhancing group therapy attendance in 77 cocaine-dependent methadone patients. Patients were randomly assigned to 12 weeks of standard treatment or standard treatment with CM, in which patients earned the opportunity to win prizes ranging from $1 to $100 for submitting cocainenegative samples and attending therapy. Patients in the CM condition submitted more cocaine-negative samples and attended more groups than patients in standard treatment. The best predictor of cocaine abstinence at follow-up was duration of abstinence during treatment. On average, patients in the CM condition earned $117 in prizes. Data from this study suggest that some aspects of reinforcement can be implemented in group therapy in community-based clinics.     

Parent and Adolescent Motivational Enhancement Intervention for Substance-Using,Truant Adolescents: A Pilot Randomized Trial

The purpose of this article is to present the results of a treatment development study designed to examine the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of motivational enhancement therapy (MET) for substance using, truant adolescents plus the Family Check-Up (FCU) for parents. A randomized controlled trial was used to test the hypothesis that MET plus the FCU (MET/FCU) would lead to greater reductions in alcohol and marijuana use as well as truant behavior compared to a psychoeducation (PE) condition delivered to both adolescents and parents. Participants (n = 69; M age = 15.8 years) were 39% female, 59% White, and 31% Hispanic/Latino. Adolescents were referred from family court, from school truancy courts, from school counselors, or after presentations in high school health classes. Eligible participants reported using marijuana at least 3 times in the prior 90 days and a history of school truancy in the prior school year. The MET/FCU condition was found to be feasible to implement and was acceptable to both adolescents and parents. The PE condition was also found to be an acceptable and credible comparison condition by participants. Results at the 6-month follow-up favored MET/FCU over PE on days of marijuana use and number of times marijuana was smoked per day (medium effect), high volume drinking days and other drug use (small to medium effects), truancy indicators (small effects), parental monitoring (medium to large effects), and parent–teen problem solving (medium to large effects). A larger study to test the ef?cacy of the MET/FCU appears warranted based on these promising findings.     

Contingency management treatments: Reinforcing abstinence versus adherence with goal-related activities

Contingency management (CM) interventions usually reinforce submission of drug-negative specimens, but they can also reinforce adherence with goal-related activities. This study compared the efficacy of the 2 approaches. Substance-abusing outpatients (N = 131) were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 12-week treatments: standard treatment (ST), ST with CM for submitting negative urine toxicology screens, or ST with CM for completing goal-related activities. CM patients remained in treatment longer and achieved more abstinence than ST patients, but the CM condition that reinforced submission of negative samples resulted in better outcomes than the CM condition that reinforced goal-related activities. Abstinence at 6- and 9-month follow-ups did not differ by group, but longest duration of abstinence achieved during treatment was associated with abstinence posttreatment.     

The effects of modafinil and cognitive behavior therapy on sleep continuity in patients with primary insomnia

BACKGROUND: Daytime fatigue, if not frank sleepiness, is a common symptom among patients with insomnia, one that is exacerbated during acute treatment with cognitive behavior therapy (CBT). The present study was undertaken to assess whether modafinil could be used to reduce daytime fatigue, sleepiness, or both in patients with primary insomnia and whether the pharmacologic augmentation of wakefulness might produce improved sleep by itself or in combination with CBT. METHODS: 30 subjects with primary insomnia were enrolled in this study and were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 treatment conditions: (1) placebo plus CBT, (2) 100 mg modafinil plus CBT, or (3) 100 mg modafinil plus a contact control (monitor-only condition). Subjects were continuously monitored with sleep diaries from study intake until study end (10 weeks) and were evaluated on a weekly basis for changes in sleepiness. RESULTS: The mean age of the group was 41.3 years (SD, 13.4), and 70.4% of subjects were women. All 3 groups exhibited mean sleep latency and wake after sleep-onset times that were more than 30 minutes in duration. The mean pretreatment sleep profiles did not significantly differ. Modafinil, when administered alone, did not significantly affect the patients' sleep profiles. A trend, however, was evident for improved sleep latency. Modafinil, as an adjunct to CBT, tended to (1) reduce daytime sleepiness as measured by the Epworth Sleepiness Scale and (2) enhance compliance with CBT. With respect to the latter, subjects in the modafinil plus CBT group more reliably adhered to the prescribed phase delay in bedtime than did the placebo plus CBT group. DISCUSSION: These data suggest that modafinil may be used to diminish the negative side effects of CBT (increased daytime sleepiness) and may increase subject compliance with therapy. Whether enhanced daytime function mediates the change in adherence and whether reduced sleepiness and enhanced compliance translate to less patient attrition in the clinical setting remain to be evaluated.     

Comparison of sleep condition and sleep-related psychological activity after cognitive-behavior and pharmacological therapy for chronic insomnia

BACKGROUND: Previous studies of insomnia focused mainly on the improvement of sleep condition and ignored the effects of sleep-related psychological activity and daytime function after pharmacological and behavioral treatments. We compared the clinical effects of both therapies on sleep condition, sleep-related psychological activity and daytime function in chronic insomnia. METHODS: Seventy-one patients with chronic insomnia were randomly divided into 4 groups and either received cognitive-behavior therapy (CBT, n = 19), pharmacological therapy (PCT, n = 17), CBT plus medication (Combined, n = 18) or placebo (n = 17). The treatments lasted for 8 weeks with follow-ups conducted at 3 and 8 months. On the day after treatment ended, all patients were assessed using a polysomnogram (PSG), a sleep diary and a psychological assessment. RESULTS: The three active treatments were more effective than placebo at the time the treatments were completed. Subjective sleep-onset latency, sleep efficacy and total sleep time were better in the PCT group than in the CBT group. At the 3-month follow-up, subjective and objective sleep-onset latency, sleep efficacy and total sleep time were better in the CBT group than in both the PCT and the Combined group. At the 8-month follow-up, the CBT group showed a steady comfortable sleep state, while the PCT and Combined groups were gradually returning to the pre-treatment condition. The Combined group showed a variable long-term effect. On the other hand, pre-sleep arousal at nighttime, dysfunctional beliefs about sleep as well as daytime functioning in the CBT group not only improved, but was better than in the other active treatment groups. CONCLUSION: Medication and Combined therapy produced a short-term effect on chronic insomnia while CBT had a long-term effect of improved sleep-related psychological activity and daytime functioning.     

Fluoxetine and fluvoxamine combined with individual cognitive-behaviour therapy in binge eating disorder: a one-year follow-up study

BACKGROUND: : The treatment of binge eating disorder (BED) is still the object of debate. In the present study, the effectiveness of antidepressant drugs (fluoxetine - FLX - 60 mg/day, fluvoxamine - FLV -300 mg/day), cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) and combined treatments (CBT + FLX, CBT + FLV) has been evaluated in a randomized, clinical trial. Results at the end of the active treatment (in the 24th week) and 1-year follow-up outcomes have been evaluated. METHODS: One hundred eight (44 M, 64 F) BED patients were randomly assigned to either CBT, FLX (60 mg/day), FLV (300 mg/day), CBT + FLX or CBT + FLV, for 24 weeks. At the beginning (T0), at the end (T1) of treatment and after 1 year (T2), body mass index (BMI) and eating attitude and behaviours (by EDE 12.0D) were assessed. RESULTS: At T1, BMI and EDE scores were significantly reduced in CBT, CBT + FLX and CBT + FLV, but not in the FLX and FLV treatment groups. In the CBT + FLV group, a greater (p < 0.05) reduction of EDE total scores was observed, when compared to CBT + FLX or CBT treatment groups. At T2, BMI was significantly higher than at T1, but still significantly lower than at T0 in the CBT, CBT + FLX and CBT + FLV groups, while EDE scores remained unchanged from T1 in all treatment groups. CONCLUSIONS: CBT was more effective than FLX or FLV in the treatment of BED. The addition of FLX to CBT does not seem to provide any clear advantage, while the addition of FLV could enhance the effects of CBT on eating behaviours. Modifications of eating behaviours are maintained at the 1-year follow-up, although the lost weight was partly regained.     

Cognitive-behavioural therapy for bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder. A review

Cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) programmes for bulimia nervosa (BN) have been considerably refined during the last 2 decades, and such a treatment is now extensively used. The present paper describes the treatment rationale and structure, and reviews the available evidence on its efficacy. Compared to any other psychological or pharmacological treatment for which controlled studies have been published, CBT is reported to be more effective (the majority of studies), or at least as effective. A CBT programme for binge eating disorder (BED) has been created by adapting that of BN, but it has been less extensively evaluated in field trials. Even here, however, no other treatment has proven to be of greater efficacy than CBT. Various methodological limitations reduce the possibility of generalizing these findings. Moreover, CBT was found to be completely satisfactory neither for BN nor for BED, with moderate effectiveness and some limits. However, at the present state of treatment, no other therapeutical procedure seems to be more effective, more specific or more promising. It is speculated therefore that CBT could be presently considered the first-choice remedy for these severely disabling disorders.     

Preliminary evidence for cognitive mediation during cognitive-behavioral therapy of panic disorder

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and pharmacotherapy are similarly effective for treating panic disorder with mild or no agoraphobia, but little is known about the mechanism through which these treatments work. The present study examined some of the criteria for cognitive mediation of treatment change in CBT alone, imipramine alone, CBT plus imipramine, and CBT plus placebo. Ninety-one individuals who received 1 of these interventions were assessed before and after acute treatment, and after a 6-month maintenance period. Multilevel moderated mediation analyses provided preliminary support for the notion that changes in panic-related cognitions mediate changes in panic severity only in treatments that include CBT.     

Gastric ciliated metaplasia. A study of 3406 gastrectomy specimens from dwellers of the Atlantic and the Pacific basins

BACKGROUND: Ciliated cells in gastrectomies from patients dwelling in the Pacific and Atlantic basins have been reported previously. AIM: To compare all the results in an attempt to explain the findings. METHODS: Sections from 3406 gastrectomies were reviewed: 1966 and 1440 from the Atlantic and Pacific basins, respectively. Ciliated cells and intestinal metaplasia (IM) were recorded; IM was classified into focal or extensive IM. The total number of sections/gastrectomy was noted. RESULTS: In the Atlantic basin, 5% of specimens had ciliated metaplasia (CM); it was more frequent in intestinal carcinoma (IC; 9%) than diffuse carcinoma (DC; 3%) or miscellaneous gastric diseases (MGD; 3%). In the Pacific basin, the frequency of specimens with CM was 29%: it was more frequent in IC (43%) than in DC (16%) or MGD (10%). The difference between the frequency of CM in specimens with IC or with DC/MGD in the Atlantic and the Pacific basins was significant (p < or = 0.05). The presence of CM was influenced by age and the extent of IM in both basins, but not by sex or the number of sections investigated. CONCLUSIONS: CM-apparently an independent microscopic marker-was significantly higher in the Pacific than in the Atlantic basin. Environmental carcinogens involved in the evolution of IM and IC seem to be implicated in gastric ciliogenesis. Carcinogens that differ in nature and/or in strength in both basins might activate the latent natural genes encoding ciliated processes in gastric cells in patients subsequently developing gastric carcinoma, more notably of intestinal type.     

Post‐stroke depression: the case for augmented,individually tailored cognitive behavioural therapy

In this review, we begin by considering why post‐stroke depression (PSD) is so prevalent. We then examine the current evidence base to support cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) as a treatment approach for the condition. While there is limited evidence currently, we demonstrate that much remains to be established with regard to PSD and the efficacy of CBT. We argue there is every reason to believe CBT should be an effective treatment, but that clinicians must augment and individually tailor this approach to ensure effectiveness. We set out our rationale for a novel augmented, individually tailored CBT protocol, and describe five key components that we believe once incorporated, and tested using randomized controlled methods, should enhance treatment outcome of PSD. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Key Practitioner Message: ? Depression is a common consequence of stroke. ? Despite a lack of clear evidence, there is reason to believe cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for post‐stroke depression should be effective, if it is adapted and tailored to the specific needs of stroke survivors. ? Augmented and individually tailored therapy using motivational interviewing techniques, grief resolution, selection optimization compensation, cognitive deficits adaptations and executive skills training is recommended. ? It is important to individualize augmented CBT, based on principles of case formulation.