Comparison of the effectiveness of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy with emotion regulation training on sensation seeking and self-harm behavior in adolescents susceptible to addiction

The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy training with emotion regulation on sensation seeking and self-injury in susceptible to addiction adolescents. The research method was experimental with pretest-posttest-follow-up design. A total of 45 adolescents residing in pseudo-family centers of the Welfare Office of Tehran were selected by purposeful sampling and were randomly assigned to two experimental and one control groups. Each of the experimental groups was trained for 8 sessions and the control group was placed on the waiting list. Data were collected using the Weed & Butcher addiction potential scale, Arnet Inventory of Sensation Seeking, and Klonsky and Glenn Self-Injury Questionnaire. Analysis of variance and Bonferroni post hoc tests were used to analyze the data. The results showed that emotion regulation training had a greater effect on reducing sensation seeking and self-harm than the mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, and this effect persisted during the follow-up period (p < 0.05). According to the findings, to reduce the psychological problems of adolescents susceptible to addiction, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy and emotion regulation training should be used in educational workshops.