The Effectiveness of Group Dialectical Behavior Therapy Method on Major Depression in Individuals Referred to Residential and Semi-Residential Addiction Recovery Centers

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Nowadays, drug abuse and depressive disorders, are one of the major problems and concerns in many countries of the world, especially in country of Iran, which can be a deterrent factor of growth and prosperity of society. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of group dialectical behavior therapy method on major depression in individuals referred to residential and semi-residential addiction recovery centers in Yasuj city.   Methods: This study was a quasi-experimental study with pretest and posttest design and control group. Data were gathered using Beck Depression Inventory.  ialectical behavior therapy group intervention, was performed on the experimental groups for eight 1.5 hour sessions once a week, but no intervention was done in the control group. After the end of the intervention, the posttest was administered to both groups (experimental and control). Date were analyzed using analysis of covariance test at the significance level of p<0.001.   Results: In this study, group dialectical behavior therapy method resulted in reduction of major depression symptoms in the experimental group as compared to the control group at the significance level of p<0.001.   Conclusion: The results of this study indicated that dialectical behavior therapy can be used as a primary and/or add-on therapy to reduce the symptoms of major depression in individuals with drug abuse referred to addiction recovery centers.    

Keywords

• substance-related disorder
• major depressive disorder
• behavior therapy.