Culturally Adapted Group Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CaGCBT-SUDs) for Substance Use Disorders and Their Caregivers

Summary

Pakistan is facing a massive rise in drug abuse. According to recent estimates, there are 6.7 million drug abusers, of which 4.25 million are drug dependents who need long-term treatments in residential setups. Despite these shocking statistics, there is a severe lack of evidence-based treatment, preventive measures, and drug indictment policies. Consequently, the number of drug dependents continues to increase at an alarming rate of 40,000 per year, making Pakistan one of the most drug-affected countries in the world. The ever-increasing rise in drug abuse can be devastating for a country such as Pakistan where the youth population (aged \<30 years) makes up a substantial 64% of the total population. It not only affects the individual's physical and mental health but also casts devastating effects on the psycho-social and economic aspects of their lives. Adults with Substance Use Disorders (SUDs) usually come across aggravated interpersonal and family problems, loss of productivity and unemployment, poverty and crimes, overall financial problems, deaths, and accidents. Furthermore, it also destroys the norms, morality, worth, and dignity of the person's well-being and effectiveness in the growth of society. Numerous studies in Pakistan showed a lack of evidence-based treatment altogether for adults suffering from SUDs. Thus, effective interventions for SUDs that also meet the clinical reality of open treatment groups are much needed to reduce the treatment gap. Further, the implementation of evidence-based approaches like Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) has an advantage with SUDs clients who are motivated. The proposed project aims at the cultural adaptation of CBT-based group intervention for adults with substance use disorders (SUDs) in Pakistan by employing a Quasi-Experimental research design, followed by Randomized Control Trials to test its effectiveness in Pakistan.

Conditions

• Treatment
• Waitlist

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Cultural Adapted Group cognitive Behaviroal therapy (CaGCBT)

In first session, introduction of the therapist/facilitator and group members will be made. Group rules will be discussed with members. Group members' introduction primarily focuses on participant/clients' expectations, addictive behaviors and its status, and goals. Moreover, it also emphasize on identification of any other significant issue that is contributing in burden of disease.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• National University of Modern Languages

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Anila Sadaf, PhD · NUML

• Rizwana Amin · Bahria University

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

QUADRUPLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

64 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2022-12-21

Primary Completion

2024-06-30

Completion

2024-12-31

Countries

• Pakistan

Study Locations