Object relations, self-help, and recovery from cocaine addiction: An empirical study.
Item
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Title
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Object relations, self-help, and recovery from cocaine addiction: An empirical study.
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Identifier
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AAI9304690
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identifier
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9304690
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Creator
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Leggett, Christopher.
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Contributor
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Adviser: Anderson J. Franklin
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Date
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1992
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Language
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English
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Publisher
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City University of New York.
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Subject
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Psychology, Clinical
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Abstract
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A within-subjects, repeated measures design was implemented to examine the covariation of levels of object relations (OR) and reality testing (RT) with drug/alcohol relapse and affiliation with twelve-step self-help groups.;Sixty-five male DSM III-R cocaine addicts admitted to intensive outpatient drug treatment were administered the Bell Object Relations-Reality Testing Inventory, the Addiction Severity Index, and a questionnaire about 12-step group affiliation. After 90 days of treatment, the instruments were re-administered to the 35 subjects who remained in treatment.;The results indicated a wide range of ego functioning associated with compulsive abuse patterns, and some impairments seem to have been produced by the addiction. OR and RT variables significantly distinguished clinically meaningful sub-groups: high versus low relapse, high versus low 12-step affiliation during the current outpatient treatment, high versus low lifetime 12-step affiliation, 12-step attendees who used a sponsor during the current outpatient treatment versus attendees who did not, and subjects with a history of residential rehabilitation treatment versus subjects with no such history.;Certain sub-groups showed relatively greater vulnerability to regress in the face of equivalent levels of pre-treatment drug use. Those with a history of residential rehabilitation treatment and those with high levels of lifetime 12-step attendance represent two overlapping sub-groups which have greater ego-regressive vulnerability and longer, more chronically relapsing addictions. These chronic relapsers responded well to the ego-supportive context of treatment, but have greater post-treatment difficulty maintaining abstinence. A lower socioeconomic milieu may contribute to regressive vulnerability by way of less ego-support, as may greater post-treatment RT impairment.;Self-selectors for high levels of 12-step attendance had more impaired RT than low attenders both at baseline and follow-up. 12-step membership may be particularly helpful in compensating for RT weaknesses, and may represent an attraction for those with greater RT impairment. Lower occupational categories of high attendance groups implies less environmental support for abstinent lifestyles, and may contribute to greater vulnerability for ego regression also seen in high attendance groups. 12-step attendance may compensate for these difficulties. Research with larger, more representative samples is needed.
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Type
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dissertation
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Source
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PQT Legacy CUNY.xlsx
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degree
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Ph.D.
