A Pilot Study of Dialectical Behavioral Therapy Group Skills Training in Patients with Substance Use Disorder: Changes in Substance Use Severity, Mood and Relationship Skills

Abstract

Objective: This pilot study aimed to investigate effects of Dialectical Behavior Therapy Group Skills Training (DBT-ST) on patients’ severity of substance use status, mood and other psychological symptoms, difficulties in emotion regulation, interpersonal problem solving skills, and social competence. Method: Nine outpatient males with substance use disorders were administered the DBT-ST for 20 weeks. Age ranged between 17 and 34. Average years of substance use was 1.61 (SD=.29). DBT-ST modules (mindfulness, emotion regulation, interpersonal skills, and distress tolerance) were administered for 20 weeks. Urine toxicology screenings, the Addiction Profile Index (API), the Symptom Check List-90-Revised (SCL-90-R), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS), the Interpersonal Problem Solving Inventory, and the Perceived Social Competence Scale were administered at pre and post-treatment. Results: There were significant decreases in the severity of substance use with decreased number of positive drug screening test results and an increase in emotion regulation; decreases in the API total score, dependency diagnosis, and the effects of substance use on the user sub-scale scores; depression, hostility, and phobic anxiety sub-scale scores on the SCL-90-R; the BDI total score; and nonacceptance, strategies, clarity and impulsivity sub-scale scores of the DERS. Conclusion: The findings indicated a 20 week DBT-ST helped participants increase their days of abstinence, regulate emotional regulation, decrease depressive and anxiety symptoms, and substance related difficulties.

Keywords

• Substance use disorders
• dialectical behavior therapy- skills training
• emotion regulation
• depression

Madde Kullanım Bozukluğu olan Hastalarda Diyalektik Davranış Terapisi Grup Becerileri Eğitimi Pilot Çalışması: Madde Kullanım Şiddeti, Duygudurum ve İlişki Becerilerindeki Değişiklikler

Öz

Amaç: Bu çalışmada, Diyalektik Davranışçı Terapi Grup Beceri eğitimi sonrasında (DBT-BE) bireylerin madde kullanım durumu, duygudurum ve diğer psikolojik semptomlar, duygu düzenlemede güçlükler, kişilerarası problem çözme becerileri ve sosyal etkinliklerindeki değişimleri incelemeyi amaçlamıştır. Yöntem: Çoklu Madde Kullanım Bozukluğu olan ve ayakta tedavi edilen dokuz erkek hasta çalışmanın katılımcılarını oluşturmuştur. Katılımcıların yaşı 17 ve 34 arasında değişmiştir. Ortalama madde kullanım yılı 1.61’dir (SS=.29). DBT-BE modülleri (farkındalık, duygu düzenleme, kişilerarası ilişkiler ve stres toleransı) 20 hafta boyunca katılımcılara uygulanmıştır. Katılımcılara tedavi öncesi ve sonrasında idrar toksikoloji tarama testi, Bağımlılık Profil İndeksi (BAPİ), Belirti Tarama Listesi (SCL-90-R), Beck Depresyon Envanteri (BDE), Duygu Düzenleme Güçlüğü Ölçeği (DERS), Kişilerarası Problem Çözme Envanteri (KPÇE) ve Algılanan Sosyal Yetkinlik Ölçeği (ASYÖ) uygulanmıştır. Bulgular: İdrar toksikoloji tarama testi sonuçları; BAPİ toplam puanı ile alt ölçekleri olan madde kullanımının kişinin yaşamına etkisi ve bağımlılık tanı ölçütleri; SCL-90-R’nin depresyon, hostilite ve fobik endişe alt ölçekleri; BDE toplam puanı; DERS kabul etmeme, stratejiler, açıklık ve dürtüsellik alt ölçeklerindeki düşüş madde kullanımının azaldığına, duygu düzenleme becerilerinin ise arttığına işaret etmiştir. Sonuç: Bu pilot çalışmanın bulguları DBT-BE’nin bireylerin madde kullanmadığı günlerin sayısının ve duygu düzenlemenin artmasına, depresif ve endişe semptomlarının azalmasına ve madde kullanımın yarattığı sıkıntıların azalmasına yardımcı olabileceğini göstermiştir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Madde Kullanım Bozuklukları
• Diyalektik Davranışçı Terapi-Beceri Eğitimi
• duygu düzenleme
• Depresyon

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