Abstract

Objectives: The main aim of this project was to evaluate the effect of group cognitive therapy based on mindfulness and spiritual schema activation on reducing relapse in opioid abuse.

Method: In an experimental study, 90 patients with the diagnosis of opioid dependence based on DSM-IV criteria were randomly assigned to two experimental and one control groups. The experimental groups took 12 two-hour sessions of group therapy. The subjects were evaluated using the Opiate Treatment Index (OPI), General Health Questionnaire-28 (GHQ-28), and the Questionnaire of the Effect of Spirituality on Behavior, before the beginning of treatment, at the twelfth session and follow-up, four months after treatment. The control group did not take group therapy and was merely treated with naltrexone. Data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA and c² test.

Results: The data showed that both group cognitive therapy based on mindfulness and spiritual schema activation and cognitive behavior therapy were more effective than naltrexone in relapse prevention (p<0.01), compliance, treatment retention (p<0.0001), decreasing the amount of drug abuse, somatic symptoms, anxiety, social dysfunction, and health imrprovement (p<0.01).

Conclusion: It seems that cognitive therapy based on mindfulness and spiritual schema activation has a significant additive effect on therapeutic treatment and CBT in opioid abuse relapse.