Evaluation of stress-coping strategies and their association with relapse rate in people with methamphetamine use disorder: an analytical study

ABSTRACT

The growing prevalence of methamphetamine use and the relevant relapse have become major issues across the world presently. Thus, the current study aims to investigate the stress-coping strategies and their relationship with the relapse rate among people with methamphetamine use disorder. The statistical population in the present analytical research comprises all methamphetamine-dependent patients referred to Farabi Hospital in Kermanshah in 2018, out of which 172 are included in the study by an accessible sampling method. The research instruments include Cassidy-Long Problem-Solving Styles Questionnaire (PSS) and Time to Relapse Questionnaire (TRQ). Data analysis shows that 51 (29.1%) subjects benefit from effective stress-coping strategies, while 124 (70.9%) apply ineffective stress-coping strategies. Further, the relapse rate among the people who used effective stress-coping strategies is (P < .05). The mean of the total relapse risk score is higher among the women and the methamphetamine-dependent patients with withdrawal history (P < .05). The present research findings reveal that the relapse rate among individuals who decide to use ineffective stress-coping strategies is higher. Therefore, it is recommended to consider stress-coping strategies applied by methamphetamine users in order to be able to diminish their relapse rate.

KEYWORDS:

• Stress-Coping Strategies
• relapse
• methamphetamine

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the Substance Abuse Prevention Research Center Clinical Research Development Center, Imam Khomeini and Mohammad Kermanshahi and Farabi Hospitals, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran for their support, cooperation, and assistance.