From Theory to Treatment: Understanding Addiction from an Operant Behavioral Perspective

André de Queiroz Constantino Miguel, Rodolfo Yamauchi, Viviane Simões, Claudio J. da Silva,
Ronaldo R. Laranjeira (Department of Psychiatry and Medical Psychology, Federal University of São Paulo, Brazil)

Abstract: Contingency management (CM) and the community reinforcement approach (CRA) are among the most effective psychosocial treatments for substance use disorders (SUD). This article briefly discusses these interventions and their outcomes, giving special emphasis to the underlying models of human behavior. We describe a theoretical perspective based on operant conditioning, and we review the literature on SUD treatment. The proven efficacy of CM and the CRA strongly supports the dissemination of an operant behavior-based understanding of addiction, as well as the interventions derived from it. Future studies should examine ways in which to make such dissemination more effective.

Key words: operant conditioning, substance use disorders, substance abuse treatment, alternative reinforcement, contingency management