Comparing the effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Trans-theoretical Model on improving abstinence self-efficacy in substance dependent adolescents

Understanding the relative effectiveness of Different kinds of therapeutic methods on abstinence is very important, considering the fact that important variables such as self-efficacy beliefs in addicted adolescents, predicts the variance of marijuana and alcohol use up to 69 and 50 percent respectively. This study was aimed to compare the effectiveness of two different therapeutic models on improving the self-efficacy in abstinence from drug use in substance dependent adolescents.Method and materials: This was an experimental study. The sample was selected from adolescents voluntarily referred to substance dependence treatment centers affiliated to Tehran Welfare Organization. Forty-five adolescents were selected after getting the informed consent forms and initial administration of University of Rhodes Island Change Assessment (URICA) scale to assess the participant's stage of change (motivation). The Drug Abstinence Self-efficacy Questionnaire (DASES) was administered afterward and they were allocated randomly to two experimental groups, namely the cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and the trans-theoretical model (TTM) groups. A third group was used as a waiting list control group. The experimental groups were assigned to a 12 session (twice weekly) treatment program in either CBT or TTM and were evaluated immediately afterward and after a two month follow up period. Data was analyzed using Multiple Analysis of Covariance through SPSS-16 software. Results clearly showed effectiveness of both methods on the self efficacy in drug use abstinence in adolescents. Furthermore, results showed that TTM was significantly more effective than CBT on general self efficacy, both immediately after the treatment and at the follow up evaluation. Results of the present study reiterate the significance of the process of change in treatment of substance dependent adolescents. Selection and initiation of any therapeutic module, should be in accordance with the patient's stage of change process