Comparing the effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Stages of Change Model on Improving Abstinence Self-Efficacy in Iranian Substance Dependent Adolescents

Iran J Psychiatry Behav Sci. 2012 Fall;6(2):7-15.

Abstract

Objective: The present study was conducted to compare the effectiveness of two therapeutic approaches, namely, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Stages of Change Model (SOC) on improving abstinence self-efficacy in adolescent addicts.

Methods: Forty five self-referred adolescent addicts were randomly selected to take part in this study. Initial assessment was made using the following questionnaires: The University of Rhodes Island Change Assessment (URICA), General Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (GSE), and Adolescent Self-Efficacy Scale (ASES). Subjects were placed in two experimental (CBT, SOC) groups and one control group (three groups in all). The two experimental groups received twice a week interventions for 12 weeks and then were post tested and once again reassessed in a two-month follow up.

Results: RESULTS clearly highlighted the effectiveness of the two models of intervention on general and special self-efficacy. The effectiveness of SOC proved greater than CBT on general self-efficacy in both posttest as well as the two-month follow up. Whereas CBT was more effective than SOC on special self-efficacy in posttest, SOC was more effective than CBT on dimensions of special self-efficacy in the follow up assessment.

Conclusions: Both CBT and SOC improve general and situational self-efficacy. Hence SOC may have more permanent and long lasting effect on self-efficacy than CBT.

Keywords: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; Self-Efficacy; Stages of Change Model; Substance Dependence..