Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 5, 2026
08:05
A Prediction Error-driven Retrieval Procedure for Destabilizing and Rewriting Maladaptive Reward Memories in Hazardous Drinkers
Published on: January 5, 2018
Coping strategy use following computerized cognitive-behavioral therapy for substance use disorders.
Dawn E Sugarman1, Charla Nich, Kathleen M Carroll
1Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06516, USA. dawn.sugarman@yale.edu
Summary
This study found that increased coping strategy use, particularly within computer-based cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT4CBT), correlates with reduced drug use among substance dependence patients.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Addiction Medicine
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Coping strategies are increasingly recognized as crucial predictors of treatment success for individuals with substance use disorders.
- Their role is particularly significant in the context of digital and self-guided therapeutic interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the correlation between observer-assessed coping skills and self-reported strategies.
- To determine if computer-based cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT4CBT) enhances coping strategy use compared to standard care.
- To examine how coping strategies influence drug-related outcomes across different treatment groups.
Main Methods:
- A randomized clinical trial involving 77 participants with substance dependence was conducted.
- Participants were assigned to either treatment-as-usual (TAU) or TAU plus CBT4CBT.
- The Coping Strategies Scale was administered at baseline and posttreatment, alongside observer ratings for skill assessment.
Main Results:
- Self-reported coping strategy use showed a strong correlation with observer ratings of coping skills.
- No significant differences in coping strategy use were observed between the groups over time.
- An increase in coping strategy use was associated with a decrease in drug use, with a more pronounced effect in the CBT4CBT group.
Conclusions:
- Observer ratings and self-reports of coping strategies are consistent.
- While CBT4CBT did not significantly increase overall coping strategy use, it amplified the positive association between coping and reduced drug use.
- Coping strategies are vital for substance use treatment outcomes, especially when integrated with digital interventions like CBT4CBT.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Coping Strategies: Problem Focused
Coping strategies are methods people use to manage, tolerate, or reduce the effects of stressors. These strategies involve both behavioral and psychological actions to handle stressful situations. One common approach is problem-focused coping, which aims to change or eliminate the source of stress rather than merely addressing its consequences. This method involves taking direct action to resolve the issue causing stress.
For example, consider a student who struggles to understand their...
For example, consider a student who struggles to understand their...
01:20Coping Strategies: Emotion Focused
Emotion-focused coping refers to a set of strategies aimed at managing the emotional impact of stressors, rather than directly addressing their causes. This approach involves altering one's emotional response to stressful situations to reduce their psychological effects. For example, individuals might talk with a friend or engage in activities like journaling to express their feelings. Such actions can help achieve emotional clarity or release, providing the psychological stability needed to...
01:25Cognitive Therapy
Cognitive therapy, pioneered by Aaron T. Beck in the 1960s, is a structured approach to addressing psychological distress by focusing on the influence of thoughts on emotions and behaviors. All cognitive therapies involve the basic assumption that human beings have control over their feelings, and that how individuals feel about something depends on how they think about it. Unlike psychoanalytic methods that delve into unconscious processes or humanistic approaches emphasizing...
01:24Treatment Strategies for Psychological Disorders
Treatment approaches for psychological disorders fall into three main categories: psychological, biological, and sociocultural. Each approach targets different aspects of mental health, requiring varying levels of education and training.
Psychological therapies focus on modifying emotions, thoughts, and behaviors through talking, interpreting, listening, rewarding, challenging, and modeling. Clinical psychologists, counselors, and social workers commonly practice psychotherapy. Clinical...
Psychological therapies focus on modifying emotions, thoughts, and behaviors through talking, interpreting, listening, rewarding, challenging, and modeling. Clinical psychologists, counselors, and social workers commonly practice psychotherapy. Clinical...
01:22Behavior Therapy
Behavior therapy incorporates diverse techniques rooted in classical conditioning principles to address maladaptive behaviors and anxiety disorders. These methods aim to reduce avoidance behaviors, foster adaptive coping mechanisms, and alter associations between stimuli and responses, making them effective in a wide range of therapeutic contexts.
Exposure therapy is a cornerstone of behavioral treatment for anxiety disorders. It involves systematic exposure to feared stimuli, either in real...
Exposure therapy is a cornerstone of behavioral treatment for anxiety disorders. It involves systematic exposure to feared stimuli, either in real...
01:24Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy
Cognitive-behavioral therapies (CBTs) are grounded in the belief that our thoughts profoundly influence our emotions and actions. Advocates of CBT emphasize three core assumptions: first, that cognitions are identifiable and measurable; second, that they are central to psychological functioning; and third, that irrational or maladaptive beliefs can be replaced with rational and adaptive ones. This transformative approach to therapy has paved the way for specific models such as Albert Ellis's...