Comparison Between Different Psychotherapy Interventions Regarding Their Effect on Substance Craving

Comparing the Effect of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Mindfulness Based Relapse Prevention and Twelve-step Therapy in Patients With Opioid Craving

the study aim is to compare betwenn the effect of mindfulness based relapse prevention and other evidence based psychotherapy interventions regaring substance craving.

In this prospective study, the population included opioid-dependent men (aged 18-50 years), some of them were admitted to El Maamora hospital and others were attendees in NA. To conduct this research, considering the drop-out rate, the list of 60 persons applying for treatment was prepared based on inclusion and exclusion criteria.

Then, three groups of 20 were randomly selected and placed in three intervention groups, group one received CBT, group two received MBRP, and group three received twelve-step therapy.

The subjects were assigned randomly to the treatment condition via a computer-generated random number with the aid of trained staff at the clinic blindly.

All participants completed the measurement scales immediately after detoxification (pre-test) and after the end of therapeutic sessions (post-test).

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age: 15-50 years.
• Male gender.
• Patients meet DSM-5(3) criteria of opioid abuse.
• Had completed detoxification in a treatment center.
• Willing to give consent they will be randomly assigned to either CBT, MBRP, or twelve-step treatment group.
• Patients have dual diagnoses.
• Patients have poly-substance use disorder.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Participants with significant cognitive disorder.
• Participants with suicidal thoughts.
• Participants with any organic condition affecting stress response and so craving such as hypertension, respiratory or cardiovascular disorders.
• Participants taking any medications (e.g., antipsychotics in high doses) known to affect the stress response.
• Participants relapsed to drug abuse during therapy.