Effectiveness of Cognitive-Behavioral Stress Management Therapy on Emotional Regulation Difficulties and Craving among Men Undergoing Methadone Maintenance Treatment: A Randomized Clinical Trial Study
International Journal of Applied Behavioral Sciences,
Vol. 13 No. 1 (2026),
1 June 2026
,
Page 11-19
https://doi.org/10.22037/ijabs.v13i1.50925
Abstract
Background and Aim: Emotional problems and the lack of control over one’s emotions are among the most significant factors that lead to substance use disorders. Craving is a major risk factor that can increase the risk of relapse in patients undergoing methadone treatment. Consequently, the present study was conducted to investigate the impact of cognitive-behavioral stress management therapy on difficulty in emotion regulation and drug craving among male patients undergoing methadone treatment.
Materials and Methods: This study was a randomized clinical trial design with a control group performed in two stages, pre-test and post-test. The study instruments were the DISEASE Emotion Regulation Scale and the Desires for Drug Questionnaire. The study sample included 30 male patients undergoing methadone treatment who were randomly divided into an experimental group (n = 14) and a control group (n = 12). The SPSS-26 and MANCOVA software were used to analyze the data.
Results: Multivariate analysis of covariance indicated that the cognitive-behavioral stress management intervention substantially helped the patients to overcome their difficulty in emotion regulation and craving η² for difficulty in emotion regulation and craving were 0.51 (P< 0.01) and 0.77 (P< 0.01), respectively.
Conclusion: Stress management therapy based on a cognitive-behavioral approach is an effective therapy for alleviating emotional difficulties and reducing craving in individuals receiving methadone treatment. Additionally, it is considered an effective method for overcoming emotional regulation difficulties and craving addiction.
- Emotion regulation; Craving; Stress management; Cognitive-behavioral therapy
How to Cite
References
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