@article{ref1,
title="Social cognitive predictors of treatment outcome in cannabis dependence",
journal="Drug and alcohol dependence",
year="2016",
author="Gullo, Matthew J. and Matveeva, Marya and Feeney, Gerald F. X. and Young, Ross McD and Connor, Jason P.",
volume="170",
number="",
pages="74-81",
abstract="BACKGROUND: Drug-related outcomes expectancies and refusal self-efficacy are core components of Social Cognitive Theory. Both predict treatment outcome in alcohol use disorders. Few studies have reported expectancies and refusal self-efficacy in cannabis dependence. None have examined both, although both constructs are key targets in Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT). This study tests the predictive role of expectancies and refusal self-efficacy in treatment outcome for cannabis dependence. <br><br>DESIGN: Outpatients completed a comprehensive assessment when commencing cannabis treatment and predictors of treatment outcome were tested. SETTING: A university hospital alcohol and drug outpatient clinic. PARTICIPANTS: 221 cannabis-dependent patients participated in a 6-week CBT program where the goal was abstinence. MEASUREMENTS: Cannabis Expectancy Questionnaire and Cannabis Refusal Self-Efficacy Questionnaire, cannabis dependence severity [Severity of Dependence Scale], psychological distress [General Health Questionnaire] at baseline; the timeline follow-back procedure at baseline and each session. <br><br>FINDINGS: Patients reporting lower confidence in their ability to resist cannabis during high negative affect (emotional relief refusal self-efficacy) had a lower likelihood of abstinence (p=0.004), more days of use (p<0.001), and larger amount used (p<0.001). Negative cannabis expectancies predicted greater likelihood of abstinence (p=0.024). Higher positive expectancies were associated with lower emotional relief self-efficacy, mediating its association with outcome (p<0.001). <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Emotional relief refusal self-efficacy and negative expectancies are predictive of better treatment outcomes for cannabis dependence. Positive expectancies may indirectly predict poorer outcome because of a negative association with self-efficacy, but this conclusion remains tentative as directionality could not be established.<br><br>Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0376-8716",
doi="10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2016.10.030",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2016.10.030"
}