Reinforcement Schedule Effects on Long-Term Behavior Change

Objective The primary aim of this study was to determine whether different schedules of contingency management (CM), in conjunction with psychosocial treatment, produced different rates of abstinence and treatment attendance among individuals dependent on methamphetamine. Methods Individuals were randomized into 1 of 3 conditions that sought to equate total potential reinforcer magnitude while varying the frequency with which reinforcement was delivered, and comparing these results to those obtained when psychosocial support alone was used. Results Results indicate that all 3 CM schedules occasioned more abstinent attendance than the group only receiving psychosocial treatment. However, the 3 CM conditions did not differ in any appreciable way. Conclusions These results suggest that treatment providers may be able to decrease the frequency of reinforcer delivery in CM paradigms while retaining efficacy to treat psychostimulant use disorders.