Trait anxiety reductions in a substance abuse population trained in stress management

Abstract

Investigated a 2-week (eight-session) stress management training program into an ongoing psychotherapy group for 11 hospitalized polydrug-abusing patients. These patients were compared to a control group of 14 similar patients on the same ward, who were participating in different psychotherapy groups. Results indicated that the stress management treatment group produced significant decreases in trait anxiety on the STAI (p less than .005) and TMAS (p less than .01). The control group's reduction was not significant, and the difference between the two groups was significant (p less than .05). Subjective reports suggested that treatment Ss used the stress management techniques to overcome insomnia associated with withdrawal, to manage anger, and to reduce situational anxiety.