Behavioral Therapies Targeting Reward Mechanisms in Substance Use Disorders

Authors

Margaret C Wardle
Heather E Webber
Jin H Yoon
Angela M Heads
Angela L Stotts
Scott D Lane
Joy M Schmitz

Language

English

Publication Date

7-1-2024

Journal

Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior

DOI

10.1016/j.pbb.2024.173787

PMID

38705285

PMCID

PMC12038817

PubMedCentral® Posted Date

7-1-2025

PubMedCentral® Full Text Version

Author MSS

Abstract

Behavioral therapies are considered best practices in the treatment of substance use disorders (SUD) and used as first-line approaches for SUDs without FDA-approved pharmacotherapies. Decades of research on the neuroscience of drug reward and addiction have informed the development of current leading behavioral therapies that, while differing in focus and technique, have in common the overarching goal of shifting reward responding away from drug and toward natural non-drug rewards. This review begins by describing key neurobiological processes of reward in addiction, followed by a description of how various behavioral therapies address specific reward processes. Based on this review, a conceptual 'map' is crafted to pinpoint gaps and areas of overlap, serving as a guide for selecting and integrating behavioral therapies.

Keywords

Reward, Humans, Substance-Related Disorders, Behavior Therapy, Animals, Behavior, Addictive, Behavioral therapy, Reward, Cognitive behavioral therapy, Acceptance and commitment therapy, Attentional bias modification, Contingency management, Behavioral activation, Episodic future thinking, Mindfulness-oriented recovery enhancement

Published Open-Access

yes

Recommended Citation

Wardle, Margaret C; Webber, Heather E; Yoon, Jin H; et al., "Behavioral Therapies Targeting Reward Mechanisms in Substance Use Disorders" (2024). Faculty, Staff and Student Publications. 6044.
https://digitalcommons.library.tmc.edu/uthgsbs_docs/6044