Psychotherapy for opiate addiction: some preliminary results

In summary, this preliminary analysis suggests two important points. First, that narcotic addicts enrolled in a methadone treatment program are receptive to psychotherapy. Secondly, that psychotherapy may add something to routine counseling services. As seen, the psychotherapy patients, in this very preliminary analysis, are using fewer drugs (including prescription drugs, methadone and illicit drugs) and they report fewer psychiatric symptoms than those receiving drug counseling alone. We do not think that the design of this project rules out the possibility that these results are nonspecific effects (seeing a "doctor," having an opportunity to see two helpers rather than one), however, we also see nothing here to support the idea that narcotic addicts cannot benefit from the services of professionally trained psychotherapists. These early analyses represent only a very small portion of the entire range of data collected. We will be especially interested in identifying reasons for improvement in those patients who respond. Preliminary analysis of segments of tapes by the independent rates shows that the raters correctly identified 80% of the therapy tapes. Comparing these independent taped ratings with outcome measures may be a valuable way to assess possible relationships between amount and kind of therapy and treatment outcome. Finally, patient ratings of therapists including the patient's views of the helping relationship may supply additional important information regarding why improvement occurs.