Exploring the impact of a transdiagnostic cognitive behavioural therapy-based intervention on a group of Malaysian adolescents with problematic drug use and emotional problems

Suwaibah Zakaria; Satoko Sasagawa; Cecilia A Essau

doi:10.1016/j.abrep.2021.100381

Exploring the impact of a transdiagnostic cognitive behavioural therapy-based intervention on a group of Malaysian adolescents with problematic drug use and emotional problems

Addict Behav Rep. 2021 Oct 5:14:100381. doi: 10.1016/j.abrep.2021.100381. eCollection 2021 Dec.

Authors

Suwaibah Zakaria¹, Satoko Sasagawa², Cecilia A Essau³

Affiliations

¹ Faculty of Psychology and Education, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Malaysia.
² Faculty of Psychology, Mejiro University, Japan.
³ Department of Psychology, Roehampton University, UK.

Abstract

Introduction: Adolescents with problematic substance use frequently have anxiety and depression and tend to have "unhealthy" lifestyle such as having poor dietary patterns and physical inactivity. The overall aim of the present study was to explore the impact of a Transdiagnostic Cognitive Behavioral Therapy-based Intervention ("Super Skills for Life" - adolescent version; SSL-A) on emotional problems among adolescents with problematic substance use and to identify demographic factors which influence the intervention outcomes.

Method: A total of 108 adolescents (M = 16.30 years, SD = 1.6) with problematic substance use who showed high levels of anxiety and depression participated in this study. They completed a set of questionnaires to measure substance use, mental health problems, cognitive emotion regulation strategies, loneliness, and lifestyle and habits at pre- and post-intervention.

Results: The adolescents reported less emotional symptoms and more prosocial behavior after the intervention. These adolescents were also consumed less substance and used less maladaptive emotion regulation strategies after participating in SSL-A. Females compared to males showed more treatment gains (i.e., reduction in loneliness and improvement in psychological health and self-esteem) after the intervention.

Conclusion: This study provides empirical evidence for the utility of the SSL-A in reducing emotional problems and substance use among adolescents with problematic substance use.

Keywords: Adolescents; Cognitive behavior therapy; Substance use; Super Skills for Life.