Effects of Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention Therapy on Drug Craving and Emotion Regulation of Therapeutic Community Centers Clients

Background: Many substance abusers suffer uncontrollable symptoms of extreme stress and cannot regulate their emotions after a traumatic experience.

Objectives: This study hence investigated the effects of mindfulness-based relapse prevention (MBRP) therapy on drug craving and emotion regulation of therapeutic community (TC) center clients.

Methods: This quasi-experimental research adopted a pretest-posttest control group design. The statistical population included all stimulant-related (methamphetamine) visitors to treatment centers (TCs) of Khuzestan Province (Iran) in 2022. The convenience sampling method was employed to select 40 participants, who were assigned to an experimental group and a control group (20 members per group). The experimental group received MBRP therapy (eight 90-minute sessions), whereas the control group received no interventions and remained on the waiting list. The data were collected by using the Desires for Drug Questionnaire (DDQ) and the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire. The ANCOVA was used for data analysis in SPSS-26.

Results: The mean and standard deviation (± SD) of the drug cravings and emotion regulation for the MBRP group in the posttest were 46.85 ± 4.47 and 27.50 ± 2.72, respectively; while in the control group, the means were 69.30 ± 7.25 and 29.60 ± 2.16, respectively. MBRP had a significant effect on drug cravings and emotion regulation in clients of TC centers (P < 0.001). According to the results, MBRP effectively reduced drug cravings and improved the emotion regulation of participants in the experimental group.

Conclusions: According to the findings, MBRP improved drug cravings and emotion regulation. Hence, MBRP can be adopted to help mitigate drug cravings and enhance the emotion regulation of patients in rehabilitation.