title: Reducing self-stigma in substance abuse through acceptance and commitment therapy: Model, manual development, and pilot outcomes.
abstract: Little is known about the assessment and treatment of self-stigma in substance abusing populations. This article describes the development of an acceptance based treatment (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy - ACT) for self-stigma in individuals in treatment for substance use disorder. We report initial outcomes from a study with 88 participants in a residential treatment program. The treatment involves 6 h of a group workshop focused on mindfulness, acceptance, and values work in relation to self-stigma. Preliminary outcomes showed medium to large effects across a number of variables at post-treatment. Results were as expected with one potential process of change, experiential avoidance, but results with other potential mediators were mixed.
authors.affiliation: University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557-0062, USA.
authors.forename: Jason B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Luoma
authors.affiliation: University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557-0062, USA.
authors.forename: Barbara S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Kohlenberg
authors.affiliation: University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557-0062, USA.
authors.forename: Steven C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Hayes
authors.affiliation: University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557-0062, USA.
authors.forename: Kara
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bunting
authors.affiliation: University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557-0062, USA.
authors.forename: Alyssa K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Rye
keywords: Substance abuse; shame; stigma; treatment