Effect of training the communication skills with cognitive-behavioral model to drug dependent couples on communication patterns and recurrent relapse

Background: One of the main challenges in methadone maintenance treatment is relapse and lack of sustainability on treatment. Therefore, considering the effective factors in this regard and reducing it through psychological interventions as an adjunct to medication is necessary. Objective: The current study aimed to determine the effectiveness of communication skill training based on cognitive-behavioral model on communication patterns and recurrent relapse in drug dependent couples. Methods: This study was a quasi-experimental intervention with pretest-posttest and control group in 2013 which carried on 40 couple referred to public addiction treatment center of Qazvin city. These people had troubled communication patterns and were selected using convenience sampling and were divided into two groups of intervention and control, randomly. Two groups were assessed by relapse prediction scale (RPS) and structured clinical interview for DSM (SCID-I) for men and communication pattern questionnaire (CPQ) for couples in pre and post-test. Intervention group received 9 two hours sessions of communication skill training based on cognitive-behavioral model. Data were analyzed using Levin and Box tests and multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA). Findings: The difference between the intervention and control groups in the constructive communication pattern with 51% (p<0/05), in mutual avoidance pattern with 61% (p<0/0001) and in the demand / withdraw pattern with 45% (p<0/05) was statistically significant. Also, the difference between the two groups in the rate of relapse with 64% (p<0/0001) was statistically significant. Conclusion: According to the findings it seems group training of communication skill based on cognitive-behavioral model can improve the communication patterns in drug-dependent couples, as well as prevents relapse in men.