The Effectiveness of Short-Term Cognitive Behavioral Group Therapy, Pharmaceutical Therapy, and Combined Treatment on the Mental Health of Drug Users at Harm Reduction Centers in Ahvaz.

BACKGROUND

Addiction is one of the most prevalent mental disorders. Epidemiological studies indicate that drug users often exhibit symptoms such as depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, nosophobia, and social dysfunction. In this study, the mental health of drug users in Ahvaz harm reduction facilities was evaluated through the effects of short-term cognitive-behavioral group therapy, medication therapy, and their combination.

METHODS

This quasi-experimental study employed a pre-test, post-test, and follow-up design with a control group. The study population comprised male drug users aged 18-57 years undergoing treatment at harm reduction centers in Ahvaz in 2023. One center was selected from the two addiction reduction centers in Ahvaz, and 60 participants were purposively sampled and evenly assigned to three experimental groups and one control group. Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire and the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28) developed by Goldberg (1979). Statistical analyses were performed using multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) and repeated measures ANOVA in SPSS version 24.

FINDINGS: The findings revealed a significant reduction in mental health problems, including anxiety, depression, somatization, and social dysfunction, in the experimental groups following the interventions. However, no significant changes were observed in the control group. The effect size (η2=0.171, P=0.002) indicated a significant interaction between treatment type and mental health improvement, demonstrating the effectiveness of pharmaceutical, non-pharmaceutical, and combined treatments.

CONCLUSION

Short-term cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) combined with pharmaceutical therapy was found to be effective in improving mental health and its components. Based on these findings, integrating this treatment approach into harm reduction centers is recommended.