Acute impact of self‐guided mental imagery on craving in cocaine use disorder: a mixed‐methods analysis of a randomized controlled trial.

Mental imagery manipulations are used to treat several psychological disorders, but their utility in treating cocaine use disorder (CUD) is unknown. Using prompted re‐experiences and simulations with contrasting valence, we assessed the acute impact of a deliberate mental imagery task on cocaine cra...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Addiction Vol. 116; no. 9; pp. 2418 - 2431
Main Authors: Lowry, Natalie, Marsden, John, Clydesdale, Bethany, Eastwood, Brian, Havelka, Eva Maria, Goetz, Camille
Format: research tables/charts Journal Article
Published: Wiley-Blackwell Sep2021
Online Access:View this record in EBSCOhost
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      dt: Sep2021
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      pub: Wiley-Blackwell
      place: Malden, Massachusetts
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        atl: Acute impact of self‐guided mental imagery on craving in cocaine use disorder: a mixed‐methods analysis of a randomized controlled trial.
      aug:
        au:
          Lowry, Natalie
          Marsden, John
          Clydesdale, Bethany
          Eastwood, Brian
          Havelka, Eva Maria
          Goetz, Camille
        affil: Addictions Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
      sug:
        subj:
          Cocaine
          Substance Use Disorders Therapy
          Craving Prevention and Control
          Guided Imagery
          Treatment Outcomes
          Human
          Male
          Female
          Adult
          Middle Age
          United Kingdom
          Secondary Analysis
          Multimethod Studies
          Interviews
          Audiorecording
          Videorecording
          Questionnaires
          Thematic Analysis
          Linear Regression
          Descriptive Statistics
          Confidence Intervals
          Self Care
          Emotions
          Community Role
          Support, Psychosocial
          Interpersonal Relations
          Criticism
          Hopelessness
          Cognitive Therapy
          Cues
          DSM
          Data Analysis Software
          Psychological Tests
          Funding Source
          Adult: 19-44 years
          Middle Aged: 45-64 years
          Male
          Female
      ab: Mental imagery manipulations are used to treat several psychological disorders, but their utility in treating cocaine use disorder (CUD) is unknown. Using prompted re‐experiences and simulations with contrasting valence, we assessed the acute impact of a deliberate mental imagery task on cocaine craving. Design A quantitative–qualitative 'mixed‐methods' analysis of data collected for a randomized controlled trial that was stopped prematurely. Setting: UK National Health Service addictions treatment clinic and outpatient clinical research facility (laboratory). Participants: Adults with CUD. The original target sample was 120. All participants enrolled at the point the original trial was stopped were included (38 enrolled, 31 completed study). Interventions: Personalized (3‐minute) cue–exposure (handling cocaine paraphernalia and watching video of drug preparation), immediately followed by a single 5‐minute, audio‐recorded, self‐guided and verbally described imagery task with random assignment to one of four conditions: two mental imagery memory re‐experiences (positive image before initiation to cocaine use or a negative image of a 'worst time' adverse cocaine use episode) or two future simulations (positive theme of recovery from CUD or negative theme of worsened CUD). Measurements Task transcripts were rated for imagery detail using five dimensions using a six‐point scale of imagery detail (ID) (total score = 0–25) and thematically coded. The outcome measure was cocaine craving using the Craving Experiences Questionnaire—strengths version (CEQ–S11; score = 0–110) reported at baseline, arrival at the laboratory, and immediately after the cue–exposure and mental imagery tasks. Findings A mixed‐effects, longitudinal, restricted linear regression, with the past‐positive imagery condition as referent, showed main effects of reduced craving after the imagery task (b = –29.2, 95% confidence interval (CI) = –45.3 to −13.1, P‐value < 0.001) and increased craving for the future‐negative task (b = 14.2, 95% CI = 0.1–28.4, P‐value 0.049). There was a future‐negative task by post‐imagery craving interaction (b = 28.1, 95% CI = 0.1–56.1, P‐value 0.049). A theory‐driven, deductive/inductive qualitative analysis of the transcripts revealed six major themes: sensory characteristics, CUD vicious cycle, self‐care, emotions and appraisals, social role and CUD recovery. Positively themed simulations included interpersonal connections and rewarding activity; negative images included personal adversity, with appraisals of self‐criticism and hopelessness. Transcripts with more imagery detail were not associated with significantly greater reductions in craving in the positive or negative imagery task (r = –0.32, 95% CI = –0.69 to 0.13 and r = 0.06, 95% CI = –0.58 to 0.53, respectively). Conclusion: In people with cocaine use disorder, after cue–exposure, a self‐guided imagery task with positive themes reduced craving, whereas mental imagery simulating worsened cocaine use disorder did not appear to.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype:
        research
        tables/charts
        Journal Article
      ougenre: Article
    language: English
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