Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 28, 2026

A Protocol for Measuring Cue Reactivity in a Rat Model of Cocaine Use Disorder
Published on: June 18, 2018
A dose response study of cognitive behavioral therapy in cocaine abusers
Lino Covi1, Judith M Hess, Jennifer R Schroeder
1National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Research Program, 5500 Nathan Shock Drive, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA. lcovi@intra.nida.nih.gov
Abstract:
In order to evaluate the effect of frequency of counseling sessions, we studied retention, cocaine use and craving, and psychiatric symptoms of 68 cocaine-dependent outpatients randomly assigned to twice weekly, once weekly, or biweekly sessions in a 12-week treatment program that utilized manual-based, individual cognitive behavioral psychotherapy. All participants were tested and monitored twice a week. Retention was comparable among treatment groups, and improvement was found regardless of counseling frequency. Cocaine use (urine toxicology and self-report), cocaine craving (VAS), and total psychiatric symptoms (SCL-90) decreased by modest but statistically significant (p < 0.05) amounts in all treatment groups. Findings suggest that cognitive behavioral therapy is effective in reducing cocaine use even if a less intensive schedule is used.
Related Concept Videos
Cognitive Therapy
Operant Conditioning Intervention
In operant conditioning, behaviors that are...
Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy
Dose-Response Relationship: Potency and Efficacy
CNS Stimulants: Cocaine, Amphetamines and Cannabinoids
Drug Abuse and Addiction: Pharmacological Phenomena

