Comparison of Effectiveness of Group Schema Therapy and Group Acceptance and Commitment Therapy on Symptoms of Borderline Personality Disorder of Patients with Substance Abuse

Personality disorders are one of the most important causes of drug abuse and improvement that is crucial for the treatment of subjects with addiction. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of group psychotherapy based on schema therapy versus acceptance and commitment therapy on symptoms of borderline personality disorder among patients with substance abuse.

The study was a semi-experimental investigation with a pretest-posttest and follow-up and control groups. The population included all addicted residing in two addiction treatment campuses in Gonbad-e-Kavoos city, Iran, in the first half of 2018, among which a sample of 30 individuals was selected by available sampling methods which were assigned into two experimental groups and one control group randomly. Instruments were Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory (MCMI-III). The first experimental group received the schema therapy intervention and the second experimental group received acceptance and commitment therapy in twelve 90-minute sessions in groups The control group did not receive any intervention. A follow-up test was performed one-month after the post-test. 

The data indicated that both therapeutic interventions were effective in reducing the symptoms of borderline personality disorders, while the control group did not change significantly. Furthermore, there was a significant difference between the effectiveness of schema therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy at the end of the treatment and in a one-month follow-up. Schema therapy was more effective in reduction of the symptoms of borderline personality disorder compared to the other groups.

The results of this study can inspire addiction specialists to use the aforementioned psychotherapy for treatment of borderline personality disorder of substance abusers and improving their psychological ability to successfully quit and prevent their relapse.