Abstract
Introduction: In addiction treatment and relapse prevention positive and negative emotional states and craving are important factors in relapse risk. The goal of current study was to assess the effectiveness of dialectical behavior therapy based emotion regulation skill training on craving reduction in substance abusers.
Method: This research was administrated in single subject experimental designs framework using multiple baselines. According to participation tendency, structural diagnostic interview and inclusion criteria, 3 male substance abusers were selected randomly. Participants were impose individually to dialectical behavior therapy based emotion regulation skill training in ten sessions. During emotion regulation skills training the craving intensity of participants were assessed via Craving Beliefs Questionnaire (Beck, 1993).
Results: Dialectical behavior therapy based emotion regulation skill training dramatically reduced craving in all three subjects, so the scores during the intervention sessions were significantly reduced compared with baseline scores. The visual inspection of charts and size effects indicated significant decrease in craving of Participants.
Conclusion: Dialectical behavior therapy based emotion regulation skill training interventions can be tempting choice of coping strategies to be effective and have constructive clinical implications in the field of substance abuse treatment and relapse prevention.