Describe the theoretical foundations for cue exposure therapy and CRA in the treatment of addictions.

With regard to Cue Exposure Therapy (CET) theoretical backgrounds, it can be said that the psychological conditioning processes that occur to the human brain as observed and postulated by Pavlov have made basic significance in finding therapeutic course (Havermans et al, 2007). Following the indications that an individual elicits towards a particular behavior, it can be exploited to make prescriptions to extinguish the behavior in a preventive therapy. According to the author, understanding certain drug related reactions from the drug addict in preventive therapy can facilitate rehabilitation that is capable of warding off relapses. Through the findings of research conducted by Pavlov in conditioned reflex studies, psychosociological arousal that ensues from drug dependence can be tracked to formulate therapeutic interventions that enhance rehabilitation. Craving for drugs in addiction behavior is one of the reactions to exposure that can be followed to extinguish the dependence usually in a therapeutic arrangement. The craving initiates drug action cascade that can lead to relapse if the appropriate psychosociological reactivity is not monitored and intervention made.

Meyers, Milford and Smith (2004) explain that Community Reinforcement Approach employs an environmental perspective to institute addiction therapy since the community is important in behavioral orientation. The family is the basic community representative in the behavioral orientation and influence that an individual’s life experiences during the life experience. According to the authors, another similar program referred to as Community Reinforcement and Family Training involves motivation of the community through various facilitation programs such as training (Lash, Meyers and Smith, 2005).

Compare and contrast the contributions of applied behavior analysis for both treatments regarding the treatment components of these approaches.

According to Meyers, Milford and Smith (2004), CRAF does not engage the drug addict directly. In the definition of the application of the addiction intervention, the community is generally the target for the formulation of therapeutic process. The family and the larger community are involved in the environment manipulation for the addiction to be handled. Training is usually involved to facilitate the correction of the addiction in a broader perspective. CRA has some elements of directly indulging the addict within the context of the community. CRA was once rated as one of the most effective methods to counter addictive behavior in terms of cost effectiveness assessment.

On the other hand, CET has a direct involvement of the addict in the therapy and behavior interventions in dealing with addiction can be controlled easily (Havermans et al, 2007). Therapy dealing with the specific psychological indications of relapse is generally more accurate since it does not make assumptions that the community involvement only has positive influence. Psychosociological reactivity monitoring assists in directly dealing with specific cues that can facilitate therapy. In terms of contributions towards behavior changes that can be relied in therapy, it is difficult to demonstrate the relationship between a certain levels of cue elicited arousal that can transpire to a specific urges. The fact that certain conditioned responses display difficulty in their termination poses difficulties in behavioral control. Cue Exposure with Response Prevention (CERP) is therefore not effective in behavioral control as an addiction intervention.

Reference

Havermans, R. C., Jansen, A., Mulkens, S. & Nederkoorn, C. (2007) “The Efficacy of Cue Exposure with Response Prevention in Extinguishing Drug and Alcohol Cue Reactivity,” Behavioral Interventions, 22:121-135

Lash, D. N., Meyers, R. J. & Smith, J. E. (2005) “A Program for Engaging Treatment-Refusing Substance Abusers into Treatment: CRAFT,” International Journal of Behavioral consultation and Therapy, 1(2):90-100

Meyers, R. J., Milford, J. & Smith, J. E. (2004) “CRA and CRAFT: Behavioral Approaches to Treating Substance-Abusing Individuals,” The Behavior Analyst Today, 5(4):391-403