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RESEARCH PRODUCT

Does Addiction Therapy Change the Hedonistic Temporal Orientation and the Satisfaction with the Patients’ Life?

subject

description

The current chapter deals with the problem of alcohol addicted patients. During their therapy, they described a sense of emptiness, low level of life satisfaction and difficulties in enjoying their lives. Those problems often caused them to return to psychoactive substance use. A longitudinal study of alcohol dependent patients (N=45) in the process of addiction therapy was conducted. The research questionnaires measured selected aspects of psychological well-being (operationalized as important areas of life and temporal orientation). The first measurement was made at the beginning of a patient’s addiction therapy. The second measurement was carried out in the last week of the patient's therapy. The therapy program was focused on stopping the substance use, making aware of addictions negative consequences and coping with the craving. It was also designed to help to cope with emotions and to redefine social interactions. The results show that addiction therapy program can help patients to improve their satisfaction with life and change their temporal orientation profile and self-esteem into a more positive one.