The impact of cognitive behaviorist based group counseling on beliefs and impulsivity of substance abuse in substance

Objective: This study was conducted to determine the effect of cognitive behavioural-based group counseling on substance use in substance addicts. Material Methods: This research was conducted in the preliminary-sontest control group real trial model. Turgut Özal Medical Center Alcohol and Substance Abuse Research, Treatment and Education Center (AMATEM) and Gaziantep 25 December State Hospital Ahmet Şireci AMATEM unit formed the universe of the study. The research was conducted between September 2018 and April 2019. Sample of the research; in the 95% confidence interval, determined by 5% error level of 0.6 magnitude at bi-directional significance level by power analysis, 51 experiments, determined by 95% representation power of the universe and selected by randomised sampling method, comprised 114 patients from 63 control groups. In obtaining data, Personal Data Form, belief scale for Substance Use and Barratt impulsivity scale were used.8-session group counseling program was applied to the patients in the experimental group by the researcher at Turgut Özal Medical Center AMATEM unit. Patients in the control group did not take any initiative. In the analysis of the data, number, percentage, mean, standard deviation, dependent and independent groups t test were used. Result: 78.4% of the participants who made up the experimental group of the study were in the 18-35 age range and 92.2% were male. Of the control group participants, 71.4% were aged 18-35 and 96.8% were male. After group counseling in the experimental group, the mean score of the last test was 31.76±13.15 and 56.38±25.16 in the control group. The difference between the final test scores was statistically significant (p<0.05). Barrat impulsivity scale the mean score of the last test was 54.43±10.34 in the study group and 83.77±13.41 in the control group. The difference between the Barrat impulsivity scale and the final test scores was statistically significant (p<0.05). Conclusion: Cognitive behavioral-based group counseling was found to be effective in reducing the negative beliefs and impulsive behaviors of substance addicts about substance use. It is recommended that group counseling programs be included in the classic treatment in AMATEMs. Keywords: Cognitive behavior, group counseling, substance abuse, belief, impulsivity