Effectiveness of cognitive-behavioural stress management on self-efficacy and risk of relapse into symptoms of substance use disorders

Background: Substance use disorders (SUDs) lead to serious problems, including health disorders, and social and occupational complications. Relapse prevention plays an important role in treating affected individuals. Aim: The present study was conducted to study the effects of cognitive-behavioural stress management (CBSM) on self-efficacy and relapses into a form of SUD. Methods: The present semi-experimental study was conducted on 40 individuals enrolled from addiction rehabilitation centres; they were matched on the basis of demographic characteristics and randomly assigned to two groups, labeled “case” and “control” group, respectively, each comprising 20 members. The questionnaires, which covered demographic data, self-efficacy, and the Relapse Prediction Scale, were distributed to the participants. After a pretest had been administered to the two groups, eight sessions of 60 minutes (two sessions a week) were held to provide CBSM training to the case group only. The test was then readministered immediately afterwards, and again two months after the completion of training and after all the data had been analysed using SPSS 17. Results: Analysis of covariance indicated a significant difference in self-efficacy and relapse showing SUD symptom recurrence; this emerged from the comparison between the case and control groups for pretest and post-test, and for pretest and follow-up (p>0.001). Conclusion: CBSM training contributes positively to increasing self-efficacy and lowering the risks of relapse into once again showing SUD symptoms. In the light of these findings, the training approach adopted can be recommended as a way to resolve SUDs