Anxiety Sensitivity Treatment for Heroin Users

Novel Intervention for Drug Use and HIV Risk Among Anxiety Sensitive Heroin Users

Anxiety Sensitivity Treatment for Heroin Users is a development project targeting mild and above levels of anxiety sensitivity that will involve the testing of a specialized protocol for improving treatment retention and outcomes for heroin dependent individuals in a residential substance use treatment. ASTH-HR will integrate established treatment modules such as Healthy Relationships, along with interoceptive exposure, affect management, and psycho-education exercises developed for anxiety prevention and treatment programs with standard substance use treatment.

Inclusion Criteria:

• exhibit a score of 21 on a self-report measure of anxiety sensitivity
• be in 28 days of residential substance use treatment.
• meet criteria for current opioid dependence as determined by SCID interview administered at intake.

Exclusion Criteria:

• evidence of limited mental competency
• the inability to give informed, voluntary, written consent to participate
• current psychosis
• current bipolar disorder.