Cognitive performance and social support in patients under maintenance therapy

Context: Due to its destructive nature for the health of individual and society, the phenomenon of addiction has always been a worrying social problem. Thus, addiction is an issue of importance for the researchers and social planners.

Aims: The purpose of this research was modeling the structural equation modeling (SEM) between craving and psychological trauma through the intermediating role of cognitive performance and social support in patients under maintenance therapy.

Settings and Design: This is a descriptive analytic study. All patients undergoing maintenance therapy in outpatient departments of Sari in 2018 were evaluated.

Material and Methods: This research was descriptive of SEM type, in particular, regression equations type. The research population consisted of patients undergoing maintenance therapy in addiction treatment centers (n = 9200) in Sari in 2017. According to the inclusion criteria, 400 samples were selected using simple random sampling. Questionnaires of craving, psychological trauma, cognitive performance, and social support were used.

Statistical Analysis Used: Data were analyzed using SEM and in particular regression equations. SPSS and AMOS were used for the analysis of the collected data.

Results: The results of the study showed that the amount of direct effect of craving on the psychological trauma was equal to 0.330, the indirect effect of craving on psychological trauma through cognitive performance was equal to 0.001, and the total effect was equal to 0.331. Given that the P value for the indirect path was >0.05 and for direct paths and total effect was <0.05, the effect of mediating the cognitive performance variable on the relationship between craving and trauma was not meaningful. Moreover, the amount of direct effect of craving on the trauma was equal to 0.316, the indirect effect of craving on trauma (through social support) was 0.013, and the total effect was equal to 0.329. Considering that the P value for the indirect path was >0.05 and was <0.05 for direct paths and the total effect, the impact of mediating the social support variable in the relationship between craving and trauma was not significant.

Conclusion: Considering the direct predictive power of variables, the results of the present study could be used in the therapy of drug addiction and patient education in relation to addicted patients.