Comparison of the effectiveness of mindfulness training and cognitive-behavioral group therapy on reducing suicidal thoughts and drug craving temptation in methadone patients

Another psychological treatment that is highly effective in the field of treating chronic diseases and addiction is cognitive-behavioral therapy. This research was conducted with the aim of comparing the effectiveness of mindfulness training and cognitive-behavioral group therapy on reducing suicidal thoughts and drug cravings in people under methadone treatment.

The research method was quasi-experimental, with pre-test, post-test and control groups. The statistical population of this research includes all the people undergoing methadone treatment in addiction treatment centers in the two cities of Tehran, under the supervision of the welfare organization in the second half of 2017, in the number of 2500 people. The sampling method of this research was purposive. The sample of this study included 60 people under methadone treatment randomly selected in 3 experimental groups (20 people in the mindfulness training group, 20 people in the cognitive-behavioral therapy group and 20 people in the control group). The experimental groups underwent treatment sessions, but nothing was done about the control group. Before and after the treatment, the subjects answered Wright's (1997) and Beck's (1901) suicidal thoughts questionnaires. The tests were repeated one month after the end of the treatment. The data were analyzed using the analysis of variance method with repeated measurements and the Bonferroni tracking test

The results showed that mindfulness training and cognitive-behavioral group therapy are effective in reducing suicidal thoughts and the temptation of substance craving in the treated people. The effect of mindfulness is greater and the effect is sustained in the one-month follow-up.

As a result, it can be recommended to implement mindfulness training in addiction treatment centers, especially since this research showed that the effect of mindfulness training continues over time.