Michael P. Twohig, Deacon Shoenberger, & Steven C. Hayes. (2007)
A preliminary investigation of acceptance and commitment therapy as a treatment for marijuana dependence in adults.
Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis,
40, 619-632.
In this investigation, 3 adults who met criteria for marijuana dependence
were treated using an abbreviated version of acceptance and commitment
therapy (ACT). The treatment was delivered in eight weekly 90-min individual
sessions. The effects of the intervention were assessed using a nonconcurrent
multiple baseline across participants design. Self-reported marijuana use,
confirmed through oral swabs, reached zero levels for all participants at
posttreatment. At a 3-month follow-up, 1 participant was still abstinent
and the other 2 were using but at a lower average level of consumption
compared to baseline. Depression, anxiety, withdrawal symptoms, and
general levels of experiential avoidance generally improved. This preliminary
test suggests that additional development and testing of ACT for marijuana
use are warranted.
DESCRIPTORS: acceptance and commitment therapy, treatment, marijuana, dependence