Training

The Center is part of a multifaceted clinical and preclinical research training program of the Division of Substance Abuse (DSA) within the Department of Psychiatry of the Yale School of Medicine. It offers several research training opportunities. The Center also offers consultation and training services for other investigators conducting psychotherapy development research and a DSA psychotherapy training program (called OPT4) to all of its research fellows.

Research Training

Those interested in research careers investigating drug abuse psychotherapy may apply for positions in one of 4 federally supported research training programs within the DSA. These training programs share many common elements and provide intensive training in research methods for clinical and preclinical investigation on drug abuse. Fellows spend 1-5 years at Yale's Division of Substance Abuse obtaining clinical and research training under the mentorship of a team of investigators whose interests range from molecular neurobiology to psychiatric epidemiology. Across these externally funded research projects, the central theme is the development and evaluation of innovative treatments for substance abusers. Our multidisciplinary program enables us to conduct research that moves rapidly and in both directions from preclinical projects ("bench") to clinical studies ("bedside"). The training goal for these programs is to provide trainees with an opportunity to devote virtually full-time effort during the initial phase of their careers to learning research skills and conducting research projects as a start to careers as independent researchers. After initial work conducted with the support of this program, they are guided to develop scientifically meritorious research proposals that will provide support for research that extends beyond the period of this program. The training program is tailored to meet the particular needs of trainees. Beyond a limited number of required seminars, trainees develop an individualized program of research and courses that will prepare them for independent research careers. The centerpiece of these programs is the opportunity to design and conduct a strong mentored but independent research project (or series of projects) to which the trainee devotes at least 60% effort.

Eligibility Requirements

All programs require a doctoral degree (M.D., Ph.D., or equivalent), U.S. citizenship or permanent U.S. residence and commitment to a career that includes research on drug abuse. Eligibility requirements and training elements differ across the 4 programs as follows:

• NIDA Postdoctoral Fellowship Program, Ismene Petrakis, M.D., Principal Investigator: Provides 1-2 years of support to allow post-doctoral trainees (MD or Ph.D.) the opportunity to devote a full-time effort early in their careers to develop the skills and experience needed to become independent researchers in the field or clinical or translational research of substance abuse. Send CV and cover letter to Ismene Petrakis, M.D., VA Connecticut Healthcare System, 950 Campbell Avenue #116A, West Haven, CT 06516, or ismene.petrakis@yale.edu.
• VA Special Postdoctoral Fellow Program: Provides 1-2 years of clinical and research training for recent graduates of residency or Ph.D. programs to work with investigators at VA Connecticut Healthcare to conduct research on dual diagnosis. Send CV and cover letter to Bruce Rounsaville, M.D., VA Connecticut Healthcare System, 950 Campbell Avenue (151D), West Haven, CT 06516 or bruce.rounsaville@yale.edu.
• NIDA Physician Scientist Training Program, Bruce Rounsaville, M.D., Principal Investigator: Provides 2-5 years of research training for faculty level Physicians (M.D. or equivalent) to conduct basic or clinical research on drug abuse. Applicants must have demonstrated relevant research accomplishments but no prior independent NIH research support. Send CV and cover letter to Bruce Rounsaville, M.D., VA Connecticut Healthcare System, 950 Campbell Avenue (151D), West Haven, CT 06516 or bruce.rounsaville@yale.edu.
• Resident/Intern Substance Use Research Education (REINSURE), Samuel Ball, Ph.D., Principal Investigator: NIDA funding provides 1-4 years of post-graduate/medical school drug abuse research education fully integrated within the existing structure of Yale’s clinical psychology internship and psychiatry residency programs. Two full-time psychology interns and up to two part-time psychiatry residents in each of the four residency years receive individualized research training experiences with large, diverse faculty working in one or more of the existing substance abuse research centers at Yale conducting basic/translational, prevention, psychotherapy, pharmacotherapy, and health services research. Specific emphasis is placed on participating in a variety of roles in research projects, didactic seminars, and supervisory/mentoring relationships. For more information, contact: samuel.ball@yale.edu.

Consultation and Training

The Center serves as a resource for investigators and clinicians regionally and nationally. The Center has a variety of training materials and assessment tools available for purchase. (Go to Order Form) Center investigators also may be available to provide consultation and training services to others designing and implementing psychotherapy development research for drug abuse. Consultation and training services may cover the following areas: study design, treatment manual development, therapist training plans, therapist training in specific empirically supported drug abuse treatments, adapting the Yale Adherence and Competence System for protocols, and establishing independent assessment of treatment integrity. For further information about consultation and training services, contact Steve Martino, Ph.D., VA Connecticut Healthcare System, 950 Campbell Avenue (151-D), West Haven, CT 06516, or steve.martino@yale.edu.

Substance Abuse Psychotherapy Training

The DSA and the Center have been established by the National Institute on Drug Abuse as a Program of Excellence for training clinician-scientists in scientifically validated behavioral treatments.  The Program is called Options in Psychotherapy Training (OPT4; Steve Martino, Ph.D., Principal Investigator) in which DSA psychiatry and psychology fellows have the option to learn 4 behavioral treatments (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Contingency Management, Motivational Interviewing, and Twelve Step Facilitation) through a combination of workshop and intensive supervision training experiences.  The training includes the same therapist training methods typically used in clinical trials to establish treatments as efficacious and provides fellows with a template for how they might train therapists in in their own research projects. For more information, contact: steve.martino@yale.edu.

Ordering

A variety of training materials are available for order. Each of these items is briefly described below. If you would like to purchase any of them, please follow the directions on the order form.

The Technology Model: An Introduction to Psychotherapy Research in Substance Abuse (manual only); compiled and edited by K. M. Carroll and K. F. Nuro, 1996. This manual focuses on the methods and models currently used to evaluate the effectiveness of psychosocial substance abuse treatments. It covers: 1) specification of treatment in manuals; 2) selection, training, and recruitment of therapists; and 3) monitoring of treatment delivery (assessment of adherence and competence).

Cognitive-Behavioral Coping Skills Treatment for Cocaine Dependence (Spanish version of manual available); compiled and edited by K. M. Carroll, 1997. This training package describes a cognitive-behavioral treatment approach for patients with substance use disorders. The materials cover the cognitive-behavioral conceptualization of cocaine dependence, the structure and format of sessions, and a variety of coping skills that therapists use within this treatment approach.

Twelve Step Facilitation Therapy for Drug Abuse and Dependence (manual and video tape); compiled and edited by S. M. Baker, 1998. This training package describes a substance abuse treatment therapy grounded in the principles of the 12 steps of AA, CA, and NA. The goals of the interventions are to educate patients about the 12-step view of drug abuse and dependence and to facilitate their active participation in AA, CA, and NA. This manual has no official relationship with, or sanction from, any 12-step program.

Compliance Enhancement: A Manual for the Psychopharmacotherapy of Drug Abuse and Dependence (manual and video tape); compiled and edited by K. M. Carroll, S. S. O’Malley, and K. F. Nuro, 1998. This training package presents a standardized psychosocial platform for use in the evaluation of study medications. These materials have been developed chiefly for clinical researchers evaluating pharmacotherapies or psychotherapy-pharmacotherapy combinations in clinical trials with substance abusers. The manual describes general medication compliance-enhancing interventions and overall clinical management and motivation building strategies.

Contingency Management: Using Motivational Incentives to Improve Drug Abuse Treatment (manual and video tape); compiled and edited by N. M. Petry and M. L. Stitzer, 2002. This training package highlights the work of Dr. Nancy Petry and her colleagues on developing lower-cost contingency management interventions and adapting this strategy for use in different substance abuse treatment settings. The materials focus on abstinence and treatment attendance as the targets of contingency management interventions.