The effect of cognitive hypnotherapy on preventing relapse to opium use in men under methadone treatment

Opium addiction is a global problem that is difficult to overcome and has a high relapse rate. Some studies have shown the effect of hypnosis in helping control withdrawal symptoms and reduce relapse. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of cognitive hypnotherapy on preventing relapse to opium use in men under methadone treatment.

This clinical trial was conducted on 34 opium addicts who were admitted to the Addiction Center of 5 AZAR GORGAN Hospital in 2024. The study population was selected from the referring patients using convenience sampling and was randomly assigned into two groups (methadone plus hypnosis) and a control (methadone only). Participants with negative urine were included in the study. Cognitive hypnotherapy was conducted, including 8 sessions (60 minutes) once a week. For all samples (intervention and control), before and after the intervention, 3 and 6 months later, a morphine test was performed, and questionnaires were completed using the Ernest Barratt Impulsiveness Scale and the Substance Craving Scale. The data were analyzed using SPSS-19 software. The significance level was considered at P<0.05.

The rate of relapse in opium use and the mean impulsivity score in all of its dimensions in the hypnotherapy group was lower than that in the control group after the intervention, three and six months later, though it was not statistically significant (P>0.05). Although the mean craving score in the two groups was not statistically significant, the craving score in the hypnotherapy group was lower than that in the control group (P>0.05).

Cognitive hypnotherapy can help reduce the desire to use opiate drugs.