The effect of self-compassion training on craving and self-efficacy in female patients with methamphetamine dependence: a one-year follow-up

ABSTRACT

Background: The use of methamphetamine has had arising trend among Iranian women in recent years. The present study was conducted to assess the effect of self-compassion training on craving and self-efficacy in female patients with methamphetamine users and the rate of relapse over a one-year follow-up in 2017–2018 in the city of Kermanshah, Iran.

Methods: This study was a randomized, controlled, clinical trial. A total of 40 female patients diagnosed with methamphetamine dependency were randomly assigned either to self-compassion training and control groups. Both groups were assessed before and one month after the educational intervention using craving and self-efficacy questionnaires. The groups were followed-up in terms of methamphetamine use relapse one year after the intervention.

Results: After the intervention, the mean craving score decreased (51.82) while the mean self-efficacy score increased (28.82) in the trial group. In the one-year follow-up, ten participants (27.7%) from the trial group and 28 (75.7%) from the control group relapsed into methamphetamine users.

Conclusions: Given the present findings regarding the effect of self-compassion training on reduced craving and increased self-efficacy in female patients with methamphetamine dependence, the researchers recommend that self-compassion skills training be applied in drug rehabilitation centers and hospital wards to complement conventional therapies.

KEYWORDS:

• Craving
• self-compassion training
• self-efficacy
• methamphetamine
• female

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the Substance abuse prevention research center and clinical Research Development Unit (CRDU) of Imam Khomeini, Mohammad Kermanshahi and Farabi Hospital, university of Medical sciences, Kermanshah, Iran for their support, cooperation and assistance throughout the period of study (Grant number:96678).

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflict of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.

Additional information

Funding

This article is the result of the findings of the research project [96678] that was approved and financed by the Substance Abuse Prevention Research Center, Vice Chancellor for research and Research and Technology, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran.