Comparison Between the Efficiency of Pharmacotherapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in Reducing Cocaine Addiction and Relapse Prevention

Abstract

Objectives: To examine the therapeutic efficacy and effectiveness of cognitive behavior therapy and pharmacotherapy in the treatment of Major Cocaine Dependence. Method: A 41 outpatients males, selected for the study, diagnosed as they suffering from Cocaine Dependence according to the DSM-5, with mean age 34.58 ± 5.11. The sample was divided into three experimental groups, first group (A) (N= 14 cocaine dependents) treated by cognitive behavior therapy and pharmacotherapy in combination. The second group (B) (N=13 cocaine dependents) treated by cognitive behavior therapy alone. The third group (C) (N=14 cocaine dependents) treated by pharmacotherapy alone. The CBT second group had been exposed to 20 regular sessions of a full CBT program. All groups were assessed by Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Automatic Thoughts Checklist, Irrational Thoughts Questionnaire, Negative Health Beliefs Questionnaire, Beck Craving Beliefs Questionnaire (CBQ), Beck Relapse Prediction Scale (RPS), and the Social Efficacy Treatment Checklist (SETC) designed by the researcher. All groups were assigned to four measurements, one for the baseline before any treatment interventions, one for the post-treatment evaluation, and two for evaluating the groups in tow times of follow-up within a short time and long time. Non-parametric statistics were used to analyze the data collected by SPSS. Results: There is no significant intra-group differences were found in terms of baseline assessment. There was no significant discrepancy between the first and the second group except in the term of reducing cocaine craving, as it was clearer in the first group in comparison with other groups. There was a clear significant discrepancy between the first and third group, for all the study variables and it’s phases of assessment especially follow up. There was a clear degree of differences among the second and the third group, through the different phases of post-assessment, which refers to the great efficacy and effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy in Treating Cocaine Dependence. There was a difference among the three groups in reducing the different variables of the study for the first group. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) was proved to be more effective than pharmacotherapy in the treatment of Cocaine Dependence. The combination of CBT and pharmacotherapy was more effective than each other alone in the treatment of Cocaine Dependence and Relapse Prevention. All the results had been discussed in terms of information processing model and discussed in terms of cognitive-behavioral models of dependencies and relapse prevention. Conclusions: Available evidence suggests that cognitive–behavioral therapy is an effective intervention method for psychological aspects of automatic thoughts, depression, negative health beliefs, craving, and relapse prevention, although its efficacy in reducing cocaine dependence.