Effectiveness of Group Psychotherapy of Transactional Analysis in Craving Beliefs, Attachment Styles and Cognitive Emotion Regulation in Addicts under Treatment

This study was an attempt to investigate the effectiveness of group psychotherapy of transactional analysis in the reduction of craving beliefs, cognitive emotion regulation, and adjustment of attachment styles. This was an experimental study along with pre-test and post-test and control group. The study population consisted of all male drug addicts who had referred to Tehran rehab clinics in 2004. A total of 30 drug-dependent persons were selected as the participants of the study using convenience sampling method and, then, were randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. For data collection purposes, Craving Beliefs Questionnaire, Adult Attachment Scale, and Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire were used. Group psychotherapy of transactional analysis was carried out during ten 90-minute sessions. The results of analysis of covariance showed that therapy of transactional analysis can reduce craving beliefs, self-blame, rumination, catastrophizing, other-blame, and insecure attachment styles; and increase positive refocusing, refocusing on planning, positive reappraisal, perspective taking, acceptance, and secure attachment styles. Considering that drug-dependent individuals are more exposed to negative emotions, they are likely to act haphazardly and impulsively in such situations. Therefore, teaching transactional analysis to these people can increase the control rate in stressful situations.