The effect of group therapy on substance-dependent patients has been demonstrated in several studies emphasizing the costeffectiveness of this intervention. However, little research was conducted on how group therapy can help these patients. The objective of this article is to study the therapeutic factors of group therapy among a group of substance-dependent patients and to study the relation between the therapeutic factors of group therapy with these patients and clinical outcome of relapse or continuing abstinence. The study includes 80 patients divided into two groups. Group I includes 40 substance-dependent patients attending group therapy sessions. Group II is a comparison group of 40 substance-dependent patients who did not attend group therapy. Both groups received the same treatment except for group therapy. All subjects were diagnosed according to a structured interview applying the International Classification of Diseases-10th Revision. Fifteen-session group therapy was conducted for Group I, and subjects were subjected to the Yalom test for assessing group therapeutic factors. The relapse/sobriety outcome was assessed and compared between the two groups 1 year after the intervention. All subjects have been subjected to drug screening before and after 1 year follow-up. The relation between choice of the therapeutic factor and outcome was 194 Therapeutic Factors in Group Psychotherapy 195 studied. Group I patients cited the most helpful therapeutic factor in group therapy as catharsis, followed by group cohesiveness and interpersonal learning (output). Identification is perceived as the least helpful factor in group therapy. One year into the study, 52.5 % of Group I remained sober in comparison to 22.5 % of Group II. No significant statistical relation was found between the choice of therapeutic factor and the outcome in Group I subjects. The most helpful factor perceived by addicts in group therapy is catharsis, followed by group cohesiveness and interpersonal learning (output). Patients who received group therapy had a significantly more favorable outcome rate than those who received other modes of treatment.

The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of depression on pattern of substance use disorders (SUDs). Consecutive samples of (200) Egyptian male SUD inpatients were examined over 1-year period. Study and control samples were chosen. Study group consisted of 30 patients with comorbid substance dependence and depression. Control group consisted of 30 substance-dependent patients without depression. Semistructured interviews, Addiction Severity Index (ASI) and Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HDRS), were applied. Comparison between both groups showed significant differences for prescribed opioid use (100% versus 86%), polysubstance use (73% versus 43%), frequency of suicidal attempts (86% versus 43%), mean of admissions to substance use treatment (SUT) units (5 versus 2.2), mean of abstinence periods (3.8 versus 1.2); study group showed greater medical status impairment (P = .05), social and psychiatric impairment (P = .01). It was concluded that depression might affect SUD as regards type of substance used, pattern of use, suicide rate, duration of hospitalization, rate of rehospitalization, and finally medical, social, and psychiatric status impairment.

Drug addicts often come from dysfunctional families. The prevailing view in the literature is that mothers of drug-dependent patients can be characterized by strong emotional bonds and overprotection. Studies suggest that maternal rejection could be a major risk factor of developing drug addiction. This work is a continuation of our previous study of childhood parenting experiences of substance-dependent patients. The aims were to compare the personality profile of mothers of substance-dependent patients and that of mothers of matched control subjects; and to examine the relation between the personality of mothers of addicts, and severity of their offspring’s addiction. The study group consisted of 20 mothers of substance-dependent patients and a control group of 35 mothers of non-dependent subjects; mothers of both groups were age matched. Patients were diagnosed according to DSM IV criteria. Personalities of mothers of both groups were assessed using the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI). Substance-dependent patients (sons) were administered the Addiction Severity Index (ASI). The mean scores of the MMPI Scales were higher for mothers of dependent patients compared to mothers of non-dependent subjects. Scores on the depression, hysteria and paranoia scales were significantly higher for mothers of patients (P = 0.03, 0.02, and 0.03, respectively). There was a significant positive correlation between scores of hysteria, and psychopathic deviance and the ASI (P = 0.03 and 0.01, respectively). There were significant negative correlations between scores of social introversion and the ASI drug/alcohol use status (P = 0.007), and family history dimensions (P = 0.003). Mothers of substance-dependent patients showed disturbances in aspects of personalities that might be related to initiation of perpetuation of substance dependence.

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