Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Problematic Chemsex

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Problematic Chemsex: a Pilot Study

Investigation of the efficacy of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for the psychological treatment of problematic chemsex. As a pilot study, the intervention will be tested in a small group.

After being informed about the study, all patients giving written informed consent will be assessed to determine eligibility for study entry.

Patients who meet eligibility requirements will receive psychological intervention consisting in an 8-session individual on line-delivered ACT-based treatment.

The participants will be assessed through self-report instruments before and after treatment and at 3 months follow-up.

The pilot study will not include a control group.

Inclusion Criteria:

• older than 18 years-old
• Spanish speaking
• having used psychoactive substances to facilitate, maintain and/or improve sexual relations in the last year
• significant score on the HBI Inventory (of 53 or more)
• clinically significant discomfort related to sexual practices
• degree of interference in his/her life of sexual practices greater than or equal to 5 out of 10
• desire to improve/reduce excessive sexual behaviour

Exclusion Criteria:

• receiving psychological or psychopharmacological treatment
• intellectual disability
• substance dependence (use not associated with sex)
• personality disorder or other serious or chronic mental disorder diagnosed