Health and Medical Psychology

Comparative Effects of Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy and Narcotics Anonymous Participation on Craving Among Men with Substance Use Disorders

https://doi.org/10.61838/ijbmc.v13i2.822
Substance-Related Disorders Opioid-Related Disorders Craving Psychotherapy Psychodynamic

Authors

  • Bita Bavadi Department of Clinical Psychology, Ro.c, Islamic Azad University, Roudehen, Iran.
  • Malek Mirhashemi
    mirhashemimalek@iau.ac.ir
    Department of Psychology, Ro.c, Islamic Azad University, Roudehen, Iran.
  • Mina Mojtabaei Department of Psychology, Ro.c, Islamic Azad University, Roudehen, Iran.
In Press
Quantitative Study(ies)

Objective: This study compared the effectiveness of Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP) and participation in Narcotics Anonymous (NA) groups in reducing craving among men with substance use disorders.

Methods and Materials: This quasi-experimental study used a pretest–posttest control-group design with a three-month follow-up. The sample included men with opioid-related substance use disorders referred to addiction treatment camps supervised by the Tehran Province Welfare Organization and NA groups. Participants were assigned to ISTDP, NA, or control groups. The intervention groups received 30 therapeutic sessions, while the control group received no intervention during the study period. Craving was assessed using the Momentary Craving Questionnaire. Data were analyzed using mixed repeated-measures analysis of variance and Bonferroni post hoc tests.

Findings: Craving scores decreased in both intervention groups compared with the control group. Mean craving scores changed from 74.40 ± 16.21 to 60.33 ± 15.80 at posttest and 60.13 ± 15.70 at follow-up in the NA group, and from 73.27 ± 13.45 to 66.93 ± 19.34 at posttest and 67.87 ± 19.78 at follow-up in the ISTDP group. The time × group interaction was significant (F = 4.55, p = 0.01, η² = 0.19), and the between-group effect was also significant (F = 4.95, p = 0.01, η² = 0.21).

Conclusion: Both ISTDP and NA participation significantly reduced craving among men with substance use disorders. These findings support the use of structured psychodynamic and peer-support interventions in addiction treatment.