Written Emotional Expression During Recovery From Cocaine Dependence: Group and Individual Differences in Craving Intensity

Abstract

We conducted a prospective, single-blind, parallel group, controlled trial to evaluate effects of written emotional expression in patients receiving intensive treatment for cocaine dependence in a residential-unit setting. Randomization to the emotional expression treatment produced changes in blood pressure and mood during writing sessions, possibly because of its ability to stimulate active coping behavior. At an initial follow-up visit, patients that had received written emotional expression reported lower values for craving intensity and were less likely to self-report use of cocaine. These results may indicate a therapeutic effect of written emotional expression during recovery from cocaine dependence.

RÉSUMÉ

L’expression émotionnelle écrite pendant la cure de désintoxication de la cocaïne; Différence d’intensité des crises de manque, de groupe et individuelle

Nous avons conduit une étude clinique contrôlée, prospective, en aveugle, sur groupes parallèles pour évaluer les effets de l’expression émotionnelle écrite chez les patients suivant une cure intensive de désintoxication de la cocaïne dans une unité residentielle. La randomisation de la thérapie d’expression émotionnelle a provoqué des variations de la pression artérielle et de l’humeur pendant les séances d’écriture, probablement parce qu’elle est en mesure de stimuler un comportement d’adaptation active. A la première visite de contrôle, les patients soumis à l’expression émotionnelle écrite manifestaient des crises de manque de plus faible intensité et étaient moins susceptibles de signaler spontanément le recours à la cocaïne. Ces résultats semblent plaider en faveur de l’effet thérapeutique de l’expression émotionnelle écrite pendant la cure de désintoxication de la cocaïne.

RESUMEN

Expresión emocional escrita en la recuperación de la dependencia de la cocaína; Diferencias individuales y de grupo en la intensidad de la ansiedad

Hemos realizado un estudio ciego único, prospectivo, controlado, en grupos paralelos para evaluar los efectos de la expresión emocional escrita en los pacientes que han recibido tratamiento intensivo para la dependencia de la cocaína en el marco de una unidad residencial. La randomisación del tratamiento de la expresión emocional produjo cambios en la presión sanguínea y en el estado de ánimo durante las sesiones de escritura, posiblemente debido a su capacidad para estimular la conducta de afrontamiento activo de la situación. En una primera visita de seguimiento, los pacientes que habían recibido terapia de expresión emocional escrita mostraron valores más bajos en la intensidad de la ansiedad y tenían menos probabilidades de presentar casos de consumo de cocaína. Estos resultados pueden indicar un efecto terapéutico de la expresión emocional escrita durante la recuperación de la dependencia de la cocaína.

Keywords :

• Cocaine
• cocaine use-related disorders
• expressed emotion
• stress
• emotional
• recovery
• craving

THE AUTHORS

Kenneth Grasing, M.D., is Director of the Substance Abuse Research Laboratory at the Kansas City VA Medical Center and Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Kansas School of Medicine. Dr. Grasing's research interests include developing drug therapies that decrease drug reinforcement and prevent relapse in substance abuse disorders. His laboratory has evaluated various medications using both preclinical and clinical methods.

Deepan Mathur, M.D., is a pathology resident at the University of Missouri, Kansas City. He is pursuing a career in Pathology to further increase his knowledge of multiple medical subspecialties. Dr. Mathur has been involved with substance abuse and pain-management research, using both patient-based and preclinical methods.

Cherilyn Desouza, M.D., is the Chief of the Mental Health Service at the Kansas City VA Medical Center and Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Kansas School of Medicine. Dr Desouza's research interests include pharmacotherapy for posttraumatic stress disorder and other serious mental illnesses, and relapse prevention for substance abuse patients.

Notes

1 The journal's style utilizes the category substance abuse as a diagnostic category. Substances are used or misused; living organisms are and can be abused. Editor's note.