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Introduction: Addiction treatment is one of the challenges facing mental health studies, leading to failure if psychological components are not considered. Aim: The present study aimed to compare the effectiveness of emotion-focused therapy and schema therapy on the self-efficacy of addicts undergoing methadone maintenance treatment. Method: The research was a quasi-experimental study with a pretest-posttest control group design. The study population included all addicts undergoing methadone maintenance treatment in de-addiction clinics in district 5 of Tehran during 2021-2022, of which 3 clinics and 54 patients were purposefully selected, based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria and placed randomly in two experimental groups and one control group. The research instrument was Sherer's General Self-efficacy Scale (1982). The data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA and Bonferroni post hoc test through SPSS-26. Results: The results showed that schema therapy significantly affected self-efficacy (P

Background: Psychological problems can reduce the effectiveness of opioid withdrawal, so complementary therapies are used to increase the effectiveness of treatment in these patients. In this study, the addition of the "compassion-enriched acceptance and commitment" psychotherapy method to Venlafaxine to control depression, stress, and anxiety in opioid addicts receiving methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) was investigated. Materials and Methods: This study is a clinical trial with pre-test and post-test design. Forty opioid addicts treated with MMT were selected by voluntary sampling method and after matching were divided into two groups (n=20), including Venlafaxine alone and Venlafaxine in combination with compassion-enriched acceptance and commitment. Patients were evaluated on the DASS21 anxiety-stress-depression questionnaire. Data were analyzed using chi-square, paired and independent t-tests, and analysis of covariance with a 95% confidence interval. Results: Findings showed that both intervention methods were effective on depression, anxiety and stress (P

Introduction: Addiction treatment is one of the challenges facing mental health studies, leading to failure if psychological components are not considered. Aim: The present study aimed to compare the effectiveness of emotion-focused therapy and schema therapy on the self-efficacy of addicts undergoing methadone maintenance treatment. Method: The research was a quasi-experimental study with a pretest-posttest control group design. The study population included all addicts undergoing methadone maintenance treatment in de-addiction clinics in district 5 of Tehran during 2021-2022, of which 3 clinics and 54 patients were purposefully selected, based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria and placed randomly in two experimental groups and one control group. The research instrument was Sherer's General Self-efficacy Scale (1982). The data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA and Bonferroni post hoc test through SPSS-26. Results: The results showed that schema therapy significantly affected self-efficacy (P<0.001, F(1.167, 32.687)=43.881). Emotion-focused therapy also improved significantly self-efficacy (P<0.001, F(2, 56)=29.048). Moreover, the results from comparing the two treatment methods indicated that in the post-test stage, emotion-focused therapy was more effective in improving self-efficacy and the component "coping with obstacles" in addicts undergoing methadone maintenance treatment than schema therapy. Conclusion: Considering the effectiveness of both treatments on self-efficacy and its components, it is suggested that therapists of addicts, especially patients treated with methadone, use these treatment methods to treat clients. Additionally, as emotion-focused therapy had a relative superiority, it can be used especially to improve coping with obstacles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Methamphetamine use in patients treated with methadone is a health problem in Iran that reduces the benefits of this treatment. This has been more reported by women than by men. Short-term psychological interventions are one of the major methods of rehabilitation to solve this problem. The current study aimed to explore the reasons for methadone patients for using these interventions to quit daily MA use while in treatment. Materials & Methods In this qualitative-descriptive study, 64 women undergoing maintenance treatment from three methadone clinics in Tehran, Iran, were selected through a simple and accessible method and were interviewed.in 2016. All women met the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, Edition Five (DSM-V) criteria for regular MA use in the past 12 months while in methadone treatment. A researcher-made questionnaire was devised to interview with the patients. Quantitative-descriptive data were analyzed by PPSS software V. 22 and qualitative data were analyzed by content analysis method. Results The mean age of the women was 37.8 years (age range: 18-56 years). Overall, 50% of the participants reported living with their families. The average duration of undergoing methadone treatment was 18 months. Overall, 84.3% of participants consumed MA by smoking. The main reasons women expressed as self-reporting to use short-term psychological interventions were as follows: learning short-sighted cognitive skills is easy and affordable to quit smoking (79%): routine counseling and training on methadone treatment does not have a significant effect on stopping the use of MA, as it requires cognitive-behavioral skills and techniques (76%); with continued consumption, there is a possibility of increased divorce and separation from the family and consequently, lack of financial support (71%), which caused lack of paying for methadone treatment charges; therefore, learning cognitive-behavioral skills was necessary; regular MA use is against the religious and traditional values of family and society (66%); likelihood of homelessness was high due to continued MA use (53%); the stigma and social labeling and discrimination against consumption for women are higher than men (51%); positive feedback of methadone-therapy has been greatly reduced due to consuming MA and therefore the probability of expulsion from methadone-therapy is high p(43%). Problems related to work (38%) and risk of losing the right to foster care (31%) were also other reasons. Conclusion A combination of individual, familial, social and therapeutic reasons were described by MA dependent women as their needs for having short-term psychological treatments while experiencing methadone treatment. More studies should be conducted to investigate the effects of short-term psychological treatments in reducing regular MA use among women in methadone treatment services. Family therapy needs to be provided to reduce the likelihood of divorce, separation, homelessness, and lack of financial support among these women. Mass media should provide educational programs to reduced stigma and discrimination against women with regular MA use.

Objective Methamphetamine use in patients treated with methadone is a health problem in Iran that reduces the benefits of this treatment. This has been more reported by women than by men. Short-term psychological interventions are one of the major methods of rehabilitation to solve this problem. The current study aimed to explore the reasons for methadone patients for using these interventions to quit daily MA use while in treatment. Materials & Methods In this qualitative-descriptive study, 64 women undergoing maintenance treatment from three methadone clinics in Tehran, Iran, were selected through a simple and accessible method and were interviewed.in 2016. All women met the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, Edition Five (DSM-V) criteria for regular MA use in the past 12 months while in methadone treatment. A researcher-made questionnaire was devised to interview with the patients. Quantitative-descriptive data were analyzed by PPSS software V. 22 and qualitative data were analyzed by content analysis method. Results The mean age of the women was 37.8 years (age range: 18-56 years). Overall, 50% of the participants reported living with their families. The average duration of undergoing methadone treatment was 18 months. Overall, 84.3% of participants consumed MA by smoking. The main reasons women expressed as self-reporting to use short-term psychological interventions were as follows: learning short-sighted cognitive skills is easy and affordable to quit smoking (79%): routine counseling and training on methadone treatment does not have a significant effect on stopping the use of MA, as it requires cognitive-behavioral skills and techniques (76%); with continued consumption, there is a possibility of increased divorce and separation from the family and consequently, lack of financial support (71%), which caused lack of paying for methadone treatment charges; therefore, learning cognitive-behavioral skills was necessary; regular MA use is against the religious and traditional values of family and society (66%); likelihood of homelessness was high due to continued MA use (53%); the stigma and social labeling and discrimination against consumption for women are higher than men (51%); positive feedback of methadone-therapy has been greatly reduced due to consuming MA and therefore the probability of expulsion from methadone-therapy is high P(43%). Problems related to work (38%) and risk of losing the right to foster care (31%) were also other reasons. Conclusion A combination of individual, familial, social and therapeutic reasons were described by MA dependent women as their needs for having short-term psychological treatments while experiencing methadone treatment. More studies should be conducted to investigate the effects of short-term psychological treatments in reducing regular MA use among women in methadone treatment services. Family therapy needs to be provided to reduce the likelihood of divorce, separation, homelessness, and lack of financial support among these women. Mass media should provide educational programs to reduced stigma and discrimination against women with regular MA use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This study was aimed to compare of the effectiveness of group cognitive-behavioral therapy and methadone maintenance therapy on changing beliefs toward substance abuse among addicted people. Method: The research method was a quasi-experimental pretest-posttest with witness group. 30 addicted people who were referred to the addiction treatment centers selected by available sampling, and they randomly assigned to three groups namely: cognitive-behavioral therapy, methadone maintenance therapy and witness groups. Substance abuse beliefs questionnaire was administered among all participants before and after intervention. Results: Results showed that in both experimental groups, beliefs toward drug was reduced significantly in comparison with witness group. Conclusion: Cognitive-behavioral therapy can be changed on cognitive mediator variables, like beliefs toward substance therefore, it can reduce the risk of relapse. However, the programs of treatment of substance abuse should be targeted this type of intermediate variables.

Introduction: Narcotic Anonymous (NA), and related 12-steps program have predominant influence on drug abuse treatment programs. The aim of this study was to compare coping styles and hope among Narcotic Anonymous and Methadone Maintenance Treatment members. Method: In this causal-comparative study, 100 male (50: NA, 50: MMT. Age: 20-40, minimal clean: 6 mounth), from Shahrood city completed coping styles scale, and hope scale. Findings: Results showed that Mean scores of Agency thinkig, Task-oriented copig style, and Avoidance-oriented coping style, in NA members was significantly high, from MMT members. Also, results of Discriminant Analisis showed that comparative differences between this samples were highlited in compound of variables. Conclusion: It seems that actively attendance in NA may enhances effective Coping style and hope.

introduction: This study was aimed to determine the personality dimensions which can influence the relapse of opioid substance dependents that are under methadone maintenance treatment. Method: In this prospective study 210 addicts who were referred to methadone clinics in 1389 were selected through judgmental sampling. All participants completed the self made questionnaire and Temperament and Character Inventory and it was followed for 6 months. Data were analyzed by t test. Findings: Data analysis revealed that relapsed group has higher scores in novelty seeking and harm avoidance compared to non-relapsed group. Also, their scores in self directiveness and cooperativeness were lower than non-relapsed group. No significant differences were found in reward dependence and persistence. Conclusion: This personality profile due to dimensional personality model of Cloninger showed that patients who relapse are high in novelty seeking and harm avoidance and low in cooperativeness and self directiveness. has important information about nature of personality traits that effect relapse of addiction and has implications for treatment plan and relapse prevention.

Objective(s): An urgent project for arresting and mandatory treatment of high risk drug addicts started in May 2007 in Tehran. After triage, those with more severe patterns were sent to a residential center for compulsory methadone maintenance treatment. This paper presents the outcomes in two and six-month follow-up. The results of process evaluation of interventions were presented in the first paper.Methods: A total of 500 addicts that have been arrested within 11 days were followed. Seventy nine were sent to the residential center. Follow-up of these arrestees within the center, and two and six months after discharge were carried out through individual interviews, focus group discussions, morphine test in urine, and review of the records.Results: From the 79 individuals entering the residential center, 51 were discharged after two months. Fifteen (29.4%) was in treatment in two month follow-up and 7 (13.7% from 51) had negative morphine test. In six month follow-up, retention rate was 23.5% (11 of 51) and morphine test was negative in 6 (11.8% from 51).Conclusion: Because of the criminal approach to addiction in the country and provision of various punishments in anti-drug law, this was the first scientific approach to mandatory treatment. Although the positive outcomes are less than the results of other compulsory treatments like Drug Court Treatment, but with improvements in the provided services, utilization of a variety of approaches, and promoting aftercare services, the outcomes can improve, considerably.

Objective(s): An urgent project for arresting and mandatory treatment of high risk drug addicts started in May 2007 in Tehran. After triage, those with more severe patterns were sent to a residential center for compulsory methadone maintenance treatment. This paper presents the evaluation of the process of interventions. The two and six-months follow-up outcomes are presented in the second paper.Methods: Seventy nine drug addicts that were arrested within 11 days and sent to Shafagh residential center were followed. Repeated individual interviews with the residents, focus group discussions, morphine test in urine, observations, reviews of the records and reports, interviews with staff and authorities of involved organizations were conducted.Results: The majority of the drug addicts welcome methadone maintenance treatment. During residence, morphine test was positive in 20% and 4% in the first and second time of assessment, respectively. From the 79 individuals entering the residential center, three fourth were kept less than 50 days. There were shortcomings in providing services. During the first months, the strict control of the police, was impairing the supported environment needed for treatment. However, the majority of residents were satisfied with the provided compulsory treatment.Conclusion: Cooperaion of law enforcement and Ministry of Health, preparation of treatment protocol, and evaluation were strengths of the whole project, which differentiated it from previous similar efforts. It is suggested that the project be continued as an experimental field without expansion in order to integrate judiciary supervision, improving the process and utilization of a variety of approaches.|

Introduction: Sexual dysfunction is one of the prevalent problems of opiate-dependent patients. The current preliminarily study examines sexual dysfunction in a group of opiate-dependent patients before and after 6 months of MMT. Methods: The current study is a cross-sectional study. The numbers of 30 opiate-dependent patients were selected of Cheraghiyan clinic in Damghan, Iran. Demographics questionnaire and the International Index of Erectile Function were administered before and after treatment. Results: Erectile function showed an increase and intercourse satisfactions completely improved. Sexual desire and overall satisfaction increased, showing slight improvement while orgasmic function increased showing no improvement. Discussion: The findings revealed the prevalence of sexual dysfunction and improvement of some component in patients after treatment. Future studies are needed to explore the roles of other factors.

Purpose: This study compared the effectiveness of group cognitive-behavioral therapy based on coping skills (CBT) and methadone maintenance therapy (MMT) in improvement of emotional regulation strategies and prevention of relapse. Method: The method of the present study was semi-experimental research design (pre-test-post-test with witness group). For sampling 45 substance abuse people who had referred to addiction treatment centers were selected and assigned to three groups of cognitive behavior therapy, methadone maintenance treatment and witness group randomly. The participants in all three groups completed the emotional intelligence questionnaire before and after the intervention. Data were analyzed by covariance method. Results: The results showed that cognitive-behavior therapy in comparison to methadone maintenance therapy and witness group led to significant improvement of emotional regulation in substance abusers, but there was no significant difference between the methadone maintenance treatment group and control group. Also, the rate of relapse in individuals who assigned to cognitive-behavior therapy group in comparison to methadone maintenance therapy and the witness group was significantly lower, but there was no significant difference between methadone therapy and witness. Conclusion: Cognitive-behavior therapy was an effective treatment that can change the cognitive and behavioral variables related to substance abuse, such as emotional regulation strategies. Thus, results suggested that drug abuse treatment programs must target these mediator variables.

Objective: the aim of the present study was the survey of methadone maintenance treatment on health psyche and having hope in drug addicted persons. Method: the sample population was 60, 30 people were under Methadone Maintenance Treatment and 30 people who were waiting to receive methadone maintenance treatment. The range of their age was about 19-55 who were selected by in-hand sampling, according to Minoudasht city clinics. Sample group surveyed by general health and Sneider questionnaire. Findings: the results showed that between health psyche and being hopeful in people who are under methadone maintenance treatment and people who were waiting to receive methadone maintenance treatment, there is a significant meaning. Conclusion: methadone maintenance treatment can be counted as one of the ways to be used in quitting drug addiction.

Background and Aim: AIDS is a lethal disease, for which there is no treatment or any vaccine to prevent it. The injection-drug use and unprotected sexual behavior are two factors important in HIV transmission. This study was conducted to determine changes in high-risk sexual and injection-drug use behaviors associated with HIV among drug users referring to Methadone Maintenance Treatment centers in Shiraz, Iran. Materials and Methods: This before-after interventional study with no control group included drug-users (n=694) referring to all the 7 MMT centers in Shiraz, Iran in 2009. The data were collected by interviewing patients and using a questionnaire. The software used for data analysis was SPSS 15, the statistical test being the Wilcoxon test. Results: The average age of the clients was 36.5 ± 9.5 years. Most of them were males (% 92.1) and single (% 43.1). 37.3 % of them being injection-drug users. The proportion of the injectiondrug users having had at least one shared injection one week before referring to an MMT center was 23.3%, which decreased to 9.2% after one week. Analysis of the data also showed that 25.2% of the addicts had had at least one unprotected sexual contact during the previous month; the proportion decreased to 21.0% one month after referring to an MMT center. The reductions in the mean numbers of both shared injections and unprotected sexual contacts were statistically significant (p <0.001). Conclusion: Considering the effectiveness of the MMT centers in reducing risky behaviors of injection-drug users, it is essential to expand these centers at both the national and regional levels quantitatively and qualitatively and encourage drug-users to refer to them and seek help. This will help greatly in the prevention of HIV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]