Interpersonal Psychotherapy Adapted for Ambulatory Cocaine Abusers
- 1 January 1985
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Taylor & Francis in The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse
- Vol. 11 (3-4), 171-191
- https://doi.org/10.3109/00952998509016860
Abstract
The authors describe the strategies and goals of Klerman et al.'s Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) as revised for application to cocaine abusers. IPT is a brief, individual psychological treatment suitable for use by experienced psychotherapists. The goals are reduction or cessation of cocaine use and development of more productive strategies for dealing with social and interpersonal problems associated with the onset and perpetuation of cocaine use. The treatment has four definitive characteristics: (a) adherence to a medical model of psychiatric disorders; (b) focus on patient's difficulties in current interpersonal functioning; (c) brevity and emphasis on consistency of focus; and (d) use of an exploratory stance by the psychotherapsit which is similar to that of supportive and exploratory psycho-therapies. It is currently being used in combination with medications in a clinical trial evaluating the efficacy of desipramine, lithium carbonate, methylphenidate, and placebo as treatment for ambulatory cocaine abusers.This publication has 8 references indexed in Scilit:
- Invocation toSmoker's and Snuff Taker'sCompanionJournal of Psychoactive Drugs, 1982
- Cocaine and Sexual Dysfunction: The Curse of Mama CocaJournal of Psychoactive Drugs, 1982
- The Psychological Treatment of DepressionArchives of General Psychiatry, 1979
- Turning bread into stones: Our modern antimiracle.American Psychologist, 1979
- Drugs and Eros: Reflections on AphrodisiacsJournal of Psychedelic Drugs, 1978
- Diagnosis and Treatment of Minimal Brain Dysfunction in AdultsArchives of General Psychiatry, 1976
- The identification and treatment of adult brain dysfunctionAmerican Journal of Psychiatry, 1976