Emotion regulation strategies in individuals with cocaine use disorder maintained on methadone.

BACKGROUND AND

OBJECTIVES

Cognitive reappraisal (CR) and emotional suppression (ES), two emotion regulation strategies, are disrupted in other substance use disorders but have not been studied in cocaine dependence.

METHODS

Methadone-maintained individuals with cocaine dependence (N = 72) completed assessment of CR, ES, cocaine use, and psychiatric symptoms.

RESULTS

CR scores were associated with lower depression scores (r = -.29, p = .01), but not with cocaine abstinence during 8 weeks of treatment (r = .12, p = .29).

CONCLUSIONS AND SCIENTIFIC SIGNIFICANCE: CR appeared relevant to cocaine-dependent individuals' depression, but was not associated with abstinence or treatment outcome. (Am J Addict 2016;25:529-532).