Delay discounting decreases in those completing treatment for opioid dependence

Several studies examining both control and substance-dependent populations have found delay discounting to remain stable over time. In this report, we examine whether delay discounting changes in opioid-dependent individuals who complete a 12-week treatment. The 159 subjects who completed discounting assessments at baseline and treatment-end come from two separate clinical trials: 56 from Chopra et al. (2009) and 103 from Christensen et al. (2012). Mean discounting at 12 weeks significantly decreased to less than half (44.8%) of the baseline level (95% CIs (27.5, 73.2)). Analyzing each subject's discounting data individually, over 3 times (95% CIs (1.9, 5.5)) as many subjects statistically decreased their discounting from their own baseline levels than those who exhibited a statistical increase. Though we failed to find any relationship among discounting measures and abstinence outcomes, the results from this large study suggest that treatment for substance dependence promotes decreases in delay discounting.