AIMS

The primary study aim was to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for opioid use disorder and chronic pain. The secondary aim was to examine its preliminary efficacy.

METHODS

In a 12-week pilot randomized clinical trial, 40 methadone-maintained patients were assigned to receive weekly manualized CBT (n = 21) or Methadone Drug Counseling (MDC) to approximate usual drug counseling (n = 19).

RESULTS

Twenty of 21 patients assigned to CBT and 18 of 19 assigned to MDC completed the pilot study. Mean (SD) sessions attended were 8.4 (2.9) for CBT (out of 12 possible) and 3.8 (1.1) for MDC (out of 4 possible); mean (SD) patient satisfaction ratings (scored on 1-7 Likert-type scales) were 6.6 (0.5) for CBT and 6.0 (0.4) for MDC (p < .001). The proportion of patients abstinent during the baseline and each successive 4-week interval was higher for patients assigned to CBT than for those assigned to MDC [Wald χ (1) = 5.47, p = .02]; time effects (p = .69) and interaction effects between treatment condition and time (p = .10) were not significant. Rates of clinically significant change from baseline to end of treatment on pain interference (42.9% vs. 42.1%, [χ (1, N = 40) = 0.002, p = 0.96]) did not differ significantly for patients assigned to CBT or MDC.

CONCLUSIONS

We found support for the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of cognitive-behavioral therapy relative to standard drug counseling in promoting abstinence from nonmedical opioid use among patients with opioid use disorder and chronic pain. Overall, patients exhibited improved pain outcomes, but these improvements did not differ significantly by treatment condition.