A Psychotherapeutic Approach to Substance Abuse: Preliminary Observations

Abstract

Twenty-four long-term substance abusers were told that addiction is an attempt to adapt to an insufficiency in natural neurochemicals that contribute to a sense of well-being; this insufficiency is experienced as a craving for abuse substances which mimic the missing anxiolytic and euphorigenic neurochemicals. They were also told that they could satisfy their cravings immediately and completely without taking abuse substances by intentionally restoring adequate levels of the depleted neurochemicals. To perform this self-regulation, they were taught a specific psychological technique that united reason and emotion in an unambivalent order to the brain. Nineteen abusers (79%) were able to use the procedure to relieve all substance cravings and withdrawal symptoms. Their remissions have lasted 41 to 66 months to date (July 1991). A replication of the findings reinforces the desirability of further studies of the treatment's effectiveness and mechanisms.