Effectiveness of Schema Therapy in Emotion Regulation, Self-efficacy, and Temptation in Male Members of Narcotics Anonymous (NA) Association

The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of group schema therapy in emotion regulation, self-efficacy, and temptation in male members of NA Association in Najafabad in the winter of 2016. A quasi-experimental research design along with pre-test/ post-test/ follow-up/ control group was used for the accomplishment of this study. The research sample consisted of 40 men from NA Association in Najafabad city and its suburbs where they were selected via purposive sampling in accordance with the entry and exit criteria and were then randomly assigned to one experimental group and one control group. The experimental group received ten 90-minute sessions of group schema therapy, while the control group did not receive any intervention until the end of the program and was just placed on the waiting list. For data collection, three questionnaires, namely, Gratz and Roemer's Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (2004), Sherer's Self-efficacy Scale (1982), and Fadardi's Persian Post-Detoxification Craving Questionnaire (2008) were used. The results of this study showed that there was a significant difference between the experimental and control groups in terms of emotion regulation, self-efficacy, and temptation in post-test and follow up (P <0.05). Group schema therapy has useful practical implications in addiction treatment and relapse prevention.