Behavioral couples therapy for male methadone maintenance patients: Effects on drug-using behavior and relationship adjustment

Married or cohabiting substance-abusing men (N = 36) who were entering methadone maintenance (MM) treatment were randomly assigned to receive either individual-based methadone maintenance (IBMM) services (i.e., twice-weekly individual counseling plus methadone) or an equally intensive behavioral couples therapy (BCT) treatment condition (i.e., once-weekly couples therapy involving their female partner, once-weekly individual counseling, and methadone). Drug use and relationship satisfaction measures were collected at baseline, weekly during treatment, and at posttreatment. Male partners in the BCT condition had fewer opiate- and cocaine-positive urine samples during treatment than male partners in the IBMM condition. Couples who participated in BCT also reported higher levels of relationship happiness during treatment and higher dyadic adjustment at posttreatment than couples in which male partners participated in IBMM. Furthermore, patients in the BCT condition reported greater reductions in drug use severity and family and social problems from baseline to posttreatment than patients in the IBMM condition. These findings suggest BCT may improve treatment response for married or cohabiting MM patients.