Running head: COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY

Effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy with Support Systems

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Introduction

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is treatment method where the client participates actively

in the treatment process. The process becomes beneficial to the client when he or she

understands the importance of every treatment modality chosen. Meanwhile, people who are

faced with chemical dependence often struggle with destructive negative thinking. It is therefore

imperative to convert these harmful thoughts into positive thought patterns. Apparently,

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is instrumental in empowering clients with the ability to practice

alternative thought patterns that aid in controlling their emotions and eventually reducing

anxiety. People who are addicted to various drugs require this kind of treatment since although

there are various therapies capable of ensuring they withdraw from substance use, requisite

strategies are needed to avoid a relapse and ensure they stay sober in the future. Ultimately, it is

integral for patients to learn how their addictive behaviors can be substituted with positive ones.

Apparently, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy can be used singularly to enhance the withdrawal of

addicted patients from drug abuse and focus on more constructive thoughts that do not lead them

towards drug abuse, but additionally, several support systems may be used to ensure that in the

future, such patients do not undergo a relapse. There have been differing opinions on the

effectiveness of CBT with support systems compared to CBT without support systems.

Following these differing views, it has become imperative to embark on an evidence-based study

that will focus on validating two hypotheses as follows.

Research hypothesis (H1): Cognitive behavioral therapy with a support system is more

successful in reducing substance use in those with chemical dependencies than cognitive

behavioral therapy alone.

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Null hypothesis (H0): Cognitive behavioral therapy with a support system is not more

successful in reducing substance use in those with chemical dependencies than cognitive

behavioral therapy alone.

Literature Review

Hashemi, S and Hashemi, S.A.R.A. in 2015 embarked on a study to investigate the

effectiveness of support systems when blended with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in a patient’s

recovery journey, paying close attention to group therapy. According to Hashemi & Hashemi

(2015), several support systems can be incorporated while extending CBT to a client to aid in the

overall healing process. Among the follow-up activities that patients suffering from chemical

addiction include motivational interviewing, dialectical behavioral therapy, and

psychopharmacology among others. In fact, when one indulges in substance abuse, he or she

alienates from the rest of the society and feels alone. Within the period that addicts undergo

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, they often receive assistance from other members of the society

such as their relatives, therapists, as well as groups receiving therapy together. After they seem to

be on the recovery path and have adopted requisite behavioral change patterns, they may find

themselves engaging in constructive activities alone, which may be risky since it may lead to a

relapse (Hashemi & Hashemi, 2015). Therefore, support programs which ensure that these

individuals continue to interact actively with other members of the society are important since it

will ensure that when they face challenges, they will not be overwhelmed since they will have

people to rely on. Additionally, these people who are on the recovery path require being actively

involved with recovery groups since friends are fundamental in lowering anxiety when they are

in social situations. More so, with continued checks, one will be cautioned when he or she is
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found falling back to negative behaviors such as negative thinking, helping him or her to avoid a

relapse.

Meanwhile, Gaudiano in 2008 conducted a study on the achievements and challenges of

Cognitive Behavioral Therapies. According to Gaudiano (2008), CBT alone will be fundamental

in ensuring that within the short period it is applied, it helps the addict realize the specific

situations that expose them to engaging in substance abuse. With the right application of CBT,

these clients are able to learn how to avoid such situations as well as how to deal with such

situations in a healthy way in case they are inevitable. Therefore CBT can be said to be two-

sided such that it offers skills to unlearn behaviors which were initially destructive to the client,

enabling them to replace them with healthier, new ways. More so, CBT offers functional analysis

for the client to identify risky behaviors (Gaudiano, 2008). The most important thing to

acknowledge is that CBT is only effective when taken as part of the overall recovery program

and not solely the only recovery methods sought.

Eventually, it is safe to claim that CBT is an integral therapeutic modality that aids

patients faced with chemical addictions to understand situations which lead to them engaging in

such behaviors. Understanding such situations helped them devise ways in which they can avoid

or approach such situations differently, I manner that will not lure them to a relapse.

Furthermore, CBT serves to enable patients suffering from addiction change how they think, by

identifying destructive habits and thoughts and replacing them with new, healthier thoughts and

habits. Unfortunately, CBT is only effective as recovery modality for addicts when blended with

other support programs or when used as part of the recovery program. It is imperative to ensure

that there is a support program that will serve as a guide for the patient towards full recovery and
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avoid a relapse. Therefore, from the literature review, it will be safe to reject the Null hypothesis

and accept the Research hypothesis.

Methods
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References

Gaudiano, B. (2008). Cognitive-behavioral therapies: achievements and challenges. Evidence-

Based Mental Health, 11(1), 5-7. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/ebmh.11.1.5

Hashemi, S., & Hashemi, S. (2015). Effectiveness of Group Cognitive Behavioral Intervention to

Increase Perceived Social Support in Patients with Substance Abuse (a Treatment Model

in Prevention of Substance Abuse). European Psychiatry, 30, 1101.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/s0924-9338(15)30869-5