A controlled trial of acceptance and commitment therapy for addiction severity in methamphetamine users: preliminary study
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Aim of the study: The present study aimed at determining the effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) on addiction severity of methamphetamine users. Subject or material and methods: To achieve research goals and to test the hypotheses, theoretical bases and background of the study were investigated, showing that ACT decreased addiction severity of methamphetamine users. After visiting outpatient centers in Tehran and screening the visitors, 48 subjects were selected as initial sample. After removal of those who were unwilling to cooperate with the researcher, the remaining 30 subjects were assigned randomly to ACT or waiting-list control (WLC) condition. Treatment intervention was administered individually over 12 sessions of 45-60 minutes weekly. Data was analyzed using multivariate analysis of covariance. Results: Results showed that ACT reduced addiction severity of methamphetamine users in seven dimensions of medical condition (p=0.016), occupational status (p=0.037), alcohol use status (p=0.002), substance use status (p=0.001), legal status (p=0.002), family status (p=0.000), and psychological condition (p=0.000). Discussion: Enhancing psychological flexibility through redirecting the experiential avoidance to experiential acceptance and clarifying the values, the seven dimensions of addiction severity were improved. Conclusions: The findings suggest the effect of ACT on reduction of the severity addiction of methamphetamine users.
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Several controlled trials report substance use reductions following ACT, alongside more sustained benefits than other therapy modalities for both wellbeing and substance use.
“Several controlled trials report substance use reductions following ACT, alongside more sustained benefits than other therapy modalities for both wellbeing and substance use (Bahrami & Asghari, 2017; Lanza et al., 2014; Smout et al., 2010; Thekiso et al., 2015).”
From “I don’t want to take buprenorphine for the rest of my life”: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for a Client Struggling to Reduce Low-Dose Buprenorphine (a Hermeneutic Single-Case Efficacy Design) (2023) · cites this paper as Bahrami & Asghari, 2017
Once emotional regulation and avoidance are addressed via psychological therapy, substance use and mental health conditions improve.
“However, once emotional regulation and avoidance are addressed via psychological therapy, substance use and mental health conditions improve (Bahrami & Asghari, 2017; Conklin et al., 2015; Twohig et al., 2007).”
From “I don’t want to take buprenorphine for the rest of my life”: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for a Client Struggling to Reduce Low-Dose Buprenorphine (a Hermeneutic Single-Case Efficacy Design) (2023) · cites this paper as Bahrami & Asghari, 2017
Previous literature has demonstrated ACT to be effective in improving psychological flexibility by improving the ACT process OE, which then subsequently reduces substance use.
“Previous literature has demonstrated ACT to be effective in improving psychological flexibility by improving the ACT process OE, which then subsequently reduces substance use (Bahrami & Asghari, 2017; Lanza et al., 2014).”
From “I don’t want to take buprenorphine for the rest of my life”: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for a Client Struggling to Reduce Low-Dose Buprenorphine (a Hermeneutic Single-Case Efficacy Design) (2023) · cites this paper as Bahrami & Asghari, 2017
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“However, once emotional regulation and avoidance are addressed via psychological therapy, substance use and mental health conditions improve (Bahrami & Asghari, 2017; Conklin et al., 2015; Twohig et al., 2007).”
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- Authors
- Bahrami, S., & Asghari, F.
- Corresponding author
- Bahrami, Sajad
- ORCID
- Asghari, Farhad
- Venue
- Archives of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy
- Published
- 2017-06-28
- Volume
- 19
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 49-55
- ISSN
- 1509-2046 (ISSN-L)
- 2083-828X
- OpenAlex
- W2730350941
- Cited by
- 17
- References
- 5
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 2 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 1
- FWCI
- 1.02
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Archives of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Opioid Use Disorder Treatment
- Keywords
- acceptance and commitment therapy, methamphetamine use, addiction severity, substance use disorders, psychological flexibility, experiential avoidance, experiential acceptance, values clarification, outpatient care
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