Estudio exploratorio del impacto de las creencias nucleares relacionadas con la adicción en el consumo tras la abstinencia

Objetive

The aim of this study was to determine whether there are differences in the degree to which substance abusing patients identify themselves with core addiction beliefs immediately before a consumption episode (retrospectively assessed) vs. some days afterwards.

Material and method

The sample was composed by 29 individuals diagnosed with alcohol or cocaine dependence (75.9 % males and 24.1 % females) that were following outpatient treatment for at least two months. We asked the patients to answer the questionnaire in a way that allowed them to implement a strategy to detect and inoculate these core beliefs that negatively impact abstinence maintenance.

Results

Showed significant differences in the degree to which patients identify themselves with beliefs before vs. after the consumption episode. These results were significant both in regards to beliefs associated with addiction and to beliefs associated with the decision to give-up consumption.

Conclusion

We conclude that the existence of core addiction beliefs may predispose to consumption, with particular relevance of the beliefs associated with the decision to give-up consumption, since they are not easily verbalized thru therapy.