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. 2012 Aug;20(4):302-9.
doi: 10.1037/a0027391. Epub 2012 Feb 27.

Delay discounting decreases in those completing treatment for opioid dependence

Reid D Landes  1 , Darren R Christensen, Warren K Bickel
Affiliations

Delay discounting decreases in those completing treatment for opioid dependence

Reid D Landes et al. Exp Clin Psychopharmacol. 2012 Aug.

Abstract

Several studies examining both control and substance-dependent populations have found delay discounting to remain stable over time. In this report, we examine whether delay discounting changes in opioid-dependent individuals who complete a 12-week treatment. The 159 subjects who completed discounting assessments at baseline and treatment-end come from two separate clinical trials: 56 from Chopra et al. (2009) and 103 from Christensen et al. (2012). Mean discounting at 12 weeks significantly decreased to less than half (44.8%) of the baseline level (95% CIs (27.5, 73.2)). Analyzing each subject's discounting data individually, over 3 times (95% CIs (1.9, 5.5)) as many subjects statistically decreased their discounting from their own baseline levels than those who exhibited a statistical increase. Though we failed to find any relationship among discounting measures and abstinence outcomes, the results from this large study suggest that treatment for substance dependence promotes decreases in delay discounting.

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Conflict of interest statement

Note that Warren K. Bickel, in addition to having academic affiliations, is affiliated with HealthSim, LLC., the health-promotion software development organization that developed the fluency-based, Computer-Assisted Instruction (CAI) technology employed in the computer-based program used in studies that were reanalyzed in the present study. This technology is unique to HealthSim, LLC and was included in the present project because it is an integral part of the web-based program that was evaluated in the study. Dr. Bickel has worked extensively with Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute to monitor the relationship between these organizations, oversee all aspects of collaborative projects between the organizations, and ensure that no conflict exists between the author’s roles in each organization. The analysis plan and results were conducted by a university statistician with no relationship with HealthSim LLC.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Estimated discounting curves at baseline (solid) and treatment-end (dotted).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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