A specific cognitive behavioral group therapy program for stimulant use disorder

Emily Karsinti; Florence Vorspan; Norman Therribout; Romain Icick; Vanessa Bloch; Maeva Fortias; Kristel Piani; Lucia Romo

doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2022.1031067

A specific cognitive behavioral group therapy program for stimulant use disorder

Front Psychiatry. 2022 Nov 30:13:1031067. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.1031067. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Emily Karsinti^{1

2

3

4}, Florence Vorspan^{2

3

4

5}, Norman Therribout^{1

2

3

4}, Romain Icick^{2

3

4

5}, Vanessa Bloch^{2

3

4

5}, Maeva Fortias^{2

3

4}, Kristel Piani², Lucia Romo^{1

6}

Affiliations

¹ Clinique Psychanalyse Développement, Unités de Formation et de Recherche Sciences Psychologiques et Sciences de l'Education, Université Paris Nanterre, Nanterre, France.
² Hôpital Fernand Widal, Département Universitaire de Psychiatrie et d'Addictologie, Paris, France.
³ INSERM U1144 Variabilité de Réponse aux Psychotropes, Paris, France.
⁴ FHU Network of Research in Substance Use Disorders, Paris, France.
⁵ Université Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France.
⁶ Hôpital Raymond-Poincaré, Garches, France.

Abstract

Introduction: Stimulant use is an important health issue. In the US in 2018, 2.8% of males and 1.5% of females older than 18 had used cocaine in the preceding 12 months.

Objective: To intervene in a specific targeted group of Stimulant Use Disorder (SUD) patients according to CBT and relapse prevention theories, and to determine the program's feasibility and attendance.

Method: Stimulant Use Disorder patients in addiction care were evaluated for addictive, psychological and psychiatric dimensions at baseline and conclusion in a 9-session CBT group program with several themes: define SUD, enhance motivation, involve close companions, cope with craving, decline a proposal, solve problems, invite expert patients, invest time and money, and review content.

Results: In total, 41 patients attended at least one session. They were mainly poly dependent, primarily cocaine users. Sixty percent of the population also suffered from another psychiatric comorbidity. Median attendance for participants was 7/9 sessions.

Conclusion: A specific targeted CBT group for stimulant dependent highly comorbid patients is feasible. These findings suggest that peers should be included in addiction care services.

Keywords: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT); cocaine (PubChem CID: 11302220); craving; group therapy; substance use disorders.