Effectiveness of Group Metacognitive Therapy on Psychological Symptoms of Muslim Women with Substance Use Disorder: Evidence from Afghanistan

Substance Use Disorder (SUD) is associated with harmful outcomes and contributes to antisocial behavior and psychological disorders. The present study evaluated the effectiveness of Group Metacognitive Therapy (g-MCT) on psychological symptoms in Muslim women with SUD in the Herat Province of Afghanistan. In this study, Muslim women with substance use disorder (N = 30, mean age: 38.15 years, 100% female, 100% Afghan) were randomized to Metacognitive Therapy (MCT) or Treatment as Usual (TAU). The MCT group received six sessions of MCT, and the TAU group received only methadone maintenance therapy. All participants completed a demographic questionnaire, Metacognition Questionnaire, Beck Anxiety Inventory, Beck Depression Inventory-II, Drug Use Evaluation Questionnaire, Personal Concerns Inventory, Motivational Structure Questionnaire, and Situational Confidence Questionnaire (SCQ). Data was collected at baseline and the 3-month follow-up sessions. Compared with TAU, the MCT group was effective in reducing anxiety, depression, substance use evaluation, and personal concerns, as well as improving motivational structure, situational confidence, and metacognitive beliefs in Afghani women with Substance Use Disorder. MCT added to methadone maintenance therapy was acceptable and improved outcomes. This study suggests that MCT is an effective treatment for improving psychological symptoms in Muslim women with SUD, but only in mild to moderate severity cases. For people with severe Substance Use Disorder, additional treatment may be necessary.