The Effectiveness of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy on Improving Spirituality in Recovering Addicts

Addiction is one of the most critical mental health issues in contemporary societies, which, in addition to its physical and psychological consequences, has profound effects on an individual’s spiritual dimension. Spirituality, as a fundamental component of mental health, plays a key role in creating meaning, purpose, and resilience in life, and can serve as a protective factor in the recovery process from addiction. The present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) on spirituality among recovering addicts. The research employed a quasi-experimental design with pre-test and post-test and control group, and was applied in nature. The statistical population consisted of ۳۴ individuals recovering from heroin and opium addiction, each with more than one year of addiction history, who had referred to the Welfare Organization and Narcotics Anonymous (NA) in Omidieh County for treatment. The Hall and Edwards Spirituality Scale (۱۹۸۶) was used to measure spirituality, and the CBT intervention included nine ۱۸۰-minute sessions, conducted twice a week for the experimental group. Data were analyzed using SPSS version ۲۷ through descriptive and inferential statistical methods. The findings indicated that CBT had a positive and significant effect on the dimensions of love, patience, and spirituality in recovering addicts. These results suggest that Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy can contribute to the reconstruction of spiritual values, enhance hope and purposefulness, and improve the overall quality of life during the recovery process.

Keywords:

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy , Spirituality , Recovering Addicts