Comparing the effectiveness of Dialectical Behavior Therapy and Compassion Focused Therapy on blood cortisol levels and self-control in drug abusers

Substance abuse disorder has an increasing negative implication in all societies. Psychological treatments are helpful in reducing this disorder. The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of Dialectical Behavior Therapy and Compassion Focused Therapy on blood cortisol levels and self-control in drug abusers.

The research method was quasi-experimental. The statistical population of the study included all men with substance abuse in the Bozorgmehr clinic of Torbat-e-Heydariyeh in 2018, 60 of whom were selected by available sampling method and were randomly assigned to two experimental groups and a control group. The experimental group was trained for 10 sessions of 90 minutes, but the control group did not receive any training. To collect data, self-control questionnaire and vitro serum levels of cortisol, were used. The data were analyzed using Mancova in spss 24 software.

The results showed that there was a significant effect on self-control and cortisol levels in two groups of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (p = 0.001). However, according to the mean difference, the effectiveness of Compassion Focused Therapy on two self-control variables and cortisol levels was higher than Dialectical Behavior Therapy.

Psychological treatments such as interventions applied in this study can help to treat substance abuse disorder. Therefore, considering the low cost and effectiveness of these treatments, it is recommended to use them in the treatment of substance abuse.