Enhancing Relapse Prevention: Examining the Impact of Experiential Avoidance, Integrative Self-Knowledge, and Basic Psychological Needs in Substance Use Treatment

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Faculty of Humanities and Arts, Islamic Azad University, Zanjan Branch, Zanjan, Iran

2 Department of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities and Arts, Islamic Azad University, Zanjan Branch, Zanjan, Iran

10.34172/ahj.2024.1359

Abstract

Background: The harmful effects of drug relapse have always been one of the major challenges in addiction treatment. The present 
study aimed to predict drug relapse in addicted men under treatment based on experiential avoidance, integrative self-knowledge, 
and basic psychological needs.
Methods: The present study was a correlational one. The statistical population included all addicted men in Choubindar prison in 
Qazvin in 2021, among whom 200 individuals were selected randomly. Then, the participants filled out the Relapse Prediction 
Scale (RPS), Multidimensional Experiential Avoidance Questionnaire (MEAQ), Integrative Self-Knowledge Scale (ISK), and Basic 
Psychological Needs Scale (BPNS). Data were analyzed using stepwise regression via SPSS software (version 25).
Findings: The results of the study demonstrated that some of the components of experiential avoidance including distraction, 
distress endurance, behavioral avoidance, and distress aversion could account for 14.0% of the variance of the relapse in the 
addicts (P<0.05). Moreover, the obtained results considering the reflective self-knowledge component and the overall score of 
integrative self-knowledge could explain 15.0% of the variance in relapse in the addicts. Among the basic psychological needs, 
communication could predict 3.8% of the variance in relapse.
Conclusion: Based on the results of the present study, it is suggested that through addiction treatment and prevention of relapse 
programs, psychologists reduce drug relapse in addicts by decreasing distractions and behavioral avoidance, increasing distress
endurance, enhancing self-knowledge, and improving efficient relationships.

Highlights

Fatemeh Nazari: (Google Scholar) (PubMed)

Leila Ayaz: (Google Scholar) (PubMed)

Keywords


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