title: Effect of cognitive behavioural interventions on the quality of life in Chinese heroin-dependent individuals in detoxification: a randomised controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether cognitive behavioural interventions would improve the quality of life in Chinese heroin addicts.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Drug dependence is one of the most serious health problems in the world, representing a real menace to mental and somatic health. However, effects of cognitive behavioural interventions on quality of life in Chinese heroin addicts are unclear.
  
  
  METHODS
  This randomised controlled study was conducted at a Drug-withdrawal Rehabilitation Center in China.
  
  
  METHODS
  Following ethics approval and heroin addicts' consent, 240 heroin addicts were randomly assigned to two groups. The experimental group (n = 120) received a six-month cognitive behavioural intervention comprising education intervention and behavioural intervention developed by the investigators. The control group (n = 120) received the hospital's routine care. The effects of the interventions on patients' quality of life were evaluated at baseline and six months and were compared. A Chinese version of Quality of Life in Drug Addiction Questionnaire was used in this study. Usefulness of the intervention and usual community services was evaluated at six months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The quality of life of participants with heroin addiction with physical and psychological disorders is poor. The experimental group showed a significant improvement in quality of life after nurse-managed cognitive behavioural intervention.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The quality of life and the health status of Chinese heroin addicts were improved after they received a nurse-managed cognitive behavioural intervention.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Appropriate nurse-managed cognitive behavioural intervention for heroin addicts can improve their quality of life and promote their health. It is important for clinical nurses to understand cognitive behavioural therapy, appraisal and coping to apply knowledge in practice when dealing with a client who has heroin addiction.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Shu-Mei
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Zhuang
authors.forename: Shi-Hui
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: An
authors.forename: Yue
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhao
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People / Q000523:psychology*; D002681:China; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006304:Health Status; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024802:Nurse's Role; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: cognitive behavioural therapy; nurses; nursing; quality of life