Motivational enhancement therapy for pregnant substance users: Results from the NIDA CTN Trial.

This presentation describes protocol CTN-0013, “Motivational Enhancement Therapy to Improve Treatment Utilization and Outcome in Pregnant Substance Users,” which aimed to improve treatment retention for pregnant substance users. Two hundred pregnant substance users entering outpatient substance abuse treatment at one of the four participating CTPs (community treatment programs) were randomized to receive either three individual sessions of Motivational Enhancement Therapy for pregnant substance users (MET-PS) or the first three individual sessions normally provided by the program.

Study investigators found that MET was not more effective in increasing treatment utilization or decreasing substance use in the sample as a whole. However, various factors may have contributed to this finding, including one participating CTP’s modifications of its “treatment as usual” procedures, and issues with sample size.

Related protocols: CTN-0013