Objective
The objective of this study was to verify the effectiveness of cognitive technique replaced by positive image in the management of craving for crack-cocaine-dependent patients.
Methods
This is a quasi-experimental clinical trial using a quantitative analysis. The convenience sample comprised 34 crack-cocaine-dependent males. These subjects had cocaine as their drug of choice, having used this substance between 10 and 20 days prior to the beginning of the treatment. The instruments used were: the Cocaine Craving Questionnaire-Brief (CCQB), the visual analogue scale (VAS) to assess craving and how the technique helps to decrease it, and a form containing sociodemographic (SDF). Individual interventions were conducted with the administration of the CCQB, the VAS, and the SDF. After that, patients were exposed to objects related to the use of crack to measure craving and the same instruments were administered again. Next, cognitive technique was performed by replacing positive image for 5 minutes and were applied for the third time the instruments CCQB and VAS.
Results
Our findings demonstrated a decrease in the scores on the CCQB and on the VAS after the cognitive technique for positive image replacement in the sample whose profile matches the general pattern of crack users.
Conclusion
In spite of some methodological limitations, the present study suggests that the cognitive technique for positive image replacement is effective in the management of craving for crack-cocaine-dependent patients.
Crack-cocaine; craving; cognitive therapy