Journal of Addiction Research & Therapy
Open Access

Abstract

How to decrease the high relapse rate of heroin addicts is still a hard and hot problem worldwide. In view of this, we developed question-oriented Motivation- Skill- Desensitization- mental Energy (MSDE) model for heroin relapse prevention which encompasses a variety of psychological/behavioral interventions including cognitive behavior treatment (CBT), neuro-linguistic programming (NLP), mindfulness, many activities for mental growth and so on that emphasize on different targets. A randomized controlled trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of this model. Ninety-two heroin addicts from Xiangyang compulsory rehabilitation center in China were randomly assigned to receive MSDE intervention or routine education. The intervention group (IG) received MSDE intervention in group format over four weeks (five hours per day, six days per week). Obsessive Compulsive Drug Use Scale (OCDUS), Beck depression inventory (BDI-13), Barratt Impulsivity Scale (BIS), and Buss Aggressive Scale (BAS) were used pre- and post-intervention. Subsequent encouragement has been doing during the follow-up questionnaire survey. The IG showed significant decrease in the scores of various dimensions of OCDUS and BDI-13 after intervention (P<0.01). It also showed less anger, hostility and self-attacks after intervention (P<0.05), and had less planning impulsivity and cognitive impulsivity versus the control (P<0.01). According to the three-month follow-up, the IG showed higher abstinent rate (47.8%) than the control (6.5%) (P<0.001). These results revealed that the MSDE model was effective in reducing chronic craving and depression as well as altering impulsive and aggressive personality, and did decrease short-term relapse rate significantly.

Biography

Yuehua Peng is studying for a masters degree at Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology. The major focus of her study is drug abuse intervention and prevention under the leadership of Professor Zengzhen Wang. She has participated in a state research project which included MSDE model for heroin dependent patients, neurotransmitter supply for drug relapse prevention and so on