The Effectiveness of Group Schema Therapy on Adjusting the Early Maladaptive Schemas of the Drug-Dependent Women

Introduction: Drug addiction treatment may be associated with more challenges and problems in women compared with men. Objectives: The present research aimed at determining the impact of group schema therapy on adjusting the early maladaptive schemas in drug-dependent women. Materials and Methods: The present research was an experimental study with a pretest-posttest design and a control group. The statistical population included all of the women with substance abuse disorder who referred to the addiction recovery centers in Rasht from November to December 2019. Using a randomized sampling, 60 individuals were selected and assigned into the experimental and control groups (n=30 for each group) and completed the Young Schema Questionnaire - Short Form Version 3 (YSQ-S3). The experimental group was subjected to the schema therapy, whereas the control group did not receive any intervention. The data were analyzed using a one-way Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) and Multivariate Analysis of Covariance (MANCOVA) by SPSS V. 22 software. Results: The results showed that group schema therapy decreased early maladaptive schemas, including disconnection and rejection (P<0.01), self-control and impaired performance (P<0.01), impaired limits (P<0.003), and over vigilance and inhibition (P<0.001). Conclusion: Based on the results, schema therapy reduced the dimensions of early maladaptive schemas, such as disconnection and rejection, self-control and impaired performance, impaired limits, and over vigilance and inhibition in drug-dependent women, however it did not decrease the other-directness dimension.