A Randomized Controlled Trial of Brief Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Regular Methamphetamine Use in Methadone Treatment

ABSTRACT

This study evaluated the efficacy of brief cognitive behavioral therapy (BCBT) for regular methamphetamine use among methadone-maintained women. A randomized controlled trial was conducted in four methadone treatment services. Eligible women were assigned to receive either BCBT or drug education. Five questionnaires were used to assess the research hypotheses at weeks 0, 4, and 12. Urinalysis was used to verify self-reported methamphetamine use at week 0. Urinalyses were used for those participants who reported abstinence from methamphetamine at weeks 4 and 12. Overall, 120 women were enrolled. Sixteen participants were lost to follow-up. Compared with the control group, the treatment group showed significant reductions in frequency of methamphetamine use (p < 0.001), severity of methamphetamine dependence (p < 0.001), and number of days of methamphetamine use (p < 0.001) at weeks 4 and 12. Significant improvements in readiness to change (p < 0.001), psychological well-being (p < 0.001), and social functioning (p = 0.001) were found in the treatment group at weeks 4 and 12. Nineteen urine specimens (31.66%) in the treatment group were negative for methamphetamine use at post-treatment and follow-up, while no change was found in the control group (0.00%). The study supported the efficacy of BCBT for methamphetamine use and associated harms.

KEYWORDS:

• Brief cognitive behavioral therapy
• methadone
• methamphetamine
• treatment

Acknowledgments

The study was part of the thesis of the first author at UNSW Australia. The authors thank the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre.

Additional information

Funding

The authors thank UNSW Australia for providing a scholarship for the thesis.