Intervento di gruppo psico-educazionale strutturato per moduli volto ad incrementare l'insight in persone che presentano disturbi da uso di sostanze sottoposti a provvedimenti dell'autorità giudiziaria: un'esperienza nel SerT di Monza

Abstract

Patients with addiction treated in specialized services, also those who have Judicial Authority restrictions, are frequently little compliant to scheduled appointment. Standardised psychoeducational group intervention organized in modules is a new approach for Substance Use Disorder patients designed to promote their involvement in a treatment plan working on insight development. Group method: the method provides 90 minutes theme meetings 8 times a week run by a conductor and a co-conductor for a closed group of 8 people. For each meeting some theme work units are established, to increase self-awareness (insight) both recognising and managing emotions and recognising and setting practical and personal goals using problem solving. Meetings are divided in three parts: assigned exercises assessment, topic to be treated and next excercise assigment. Materials and methods: Two groups of 8 participants each were conducted, with 90 minutes meetings every week. All patients were subjected to legal measures and attended Addiction treatment service discontinuosly, only to take replacement and/or simptomatic therapy. Some outcomes that indicated an increased insight were assessed: toxicological supervision compliance, constant and operative group attendance and compiling training sheets at home, and patient request to start an individual treatment after the 8 group meetings. Results: Treatment outcome assessment shows a positive effect on the indicators considered. All the 12 compleeters compiled training sheets at home and were compliant with toxicological supervision having negative drug test results, and 6 requests for starting an individual psychotherapy treatment and 2 requests for an educational treatment were received. Follow-up outcomes confirm that if the ability of reflecting on emotions, thoughts and experiences increases, than a higher awareness of needing care and a better treatment adherence can be achieved.