The Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment-Based Therapy on Coping Styles, Distress Tolerance and Metacognitive Beliefs in Substance-Dependent Individuals

The study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy on coping styles, distress tolerance, and metacognitive beliefs in substance-dependent individuals.

The research method employed was semi-experimental with a pre-test-post-test design with a control group. The statistical population of the study included all drug-dependent men who sought treatment at addiction treatment clinics in Tehran in 2024. Among these, 40 people were selected using convenience sampling and were randomly divided into two groups: experimental (n=20) and control (n=20). The participants in both groups completed the multidimensional coping inventory, the distress tolerance scale, and the metacognitive beliefs questionnaire in the pre-test and post-test. Acceptance and commitment therapy was performed on the experimental group in 8 sessions lasting 90 minutes each, held twice a week. The data were analyzed using multivariate analysis of covariance.

The study findings indicated a significant difference between the two groups. Acceptance and commitment therapy led to a decrease in emotion-oriented and avoidant coping styles, as well as dysfunctional metacognitive beliefs. Conversely, it increased problem-oriented coping styles and distress tolerance in substance-dependent individuals.

The findings of this research indicate the effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy in improving the mental health of substance-dependent individuals. Given that these individuals are psychologically vulnerable, it is essential to implement measures to enhance their psychological health.