Purpose: Cognitive-spiritual group therapy of addiction is a 12-
session treatment which has recently been developed based on
spiritual care and Iranian – Islamic culture. The aim of this study
was to investigate the efficacy of cognitive-spiritual group therapy
of addiction considering the effects of spiritual care on craving,
emotional regulation and mental health of patients under methadone
maintenance treatment.
Materials and Methods: 24 individuals under methadone
maintenance treatment in Khomeynishahr addiction clinics were
selected by purposive sampling method. These 24 individuals were
divided into two matched groups and group intervention was
provided for one group (experiment) and the other one was
considered as control group. Prior to the intervention, general health
questionnaire (GHQ-12), emotional regulation subscale of Schuute
Emotional Intelligence Scale and visual analogue scale for craving
were administrated as pre-test to both control and test groups. After
the intervention, the same questionnaires were also used as post-test
for both groups.
Findings: Results of analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) showed
that cognitive-spiritual group therapy of addiction based on spiritual
care improved the mental health and emotional regulation of
experimental group and reduced their cravings compared to the
control group.
Conclusion: The aspects of the mentioned therapy and its
components such as focus on responsibility and changing the
lifestyle spiritually, safe and enduring relationship with God, trust,
praying, thanksgiving, accepting and forgiving one’s self, patience,
spiritual problem solving skill, finding one’s own identity in the
world and building effective relationships with others improve
mental health and emotional regulation and thus reduce craving.