A pilot study of Vipassana meditation with female drug users at a rehabilitation centre, Thailand

IF 0.1 Q4 SUBSTANCE ABUSE

Therapeutic Communities Pub Date : 2019-11-28 DOI:10.1108/tc-05-2019-0005

N. Wongtongkam, Phrakhru Bhavanaveeranusith

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引用次数: 2

Abstract

Purpose - Substance abuse has become a major health issue in Thailand, contributing to high numbers of premature deaths and requiring considerable expenditure on treatment and rehabilitation programs. The purpose of this paper is to explore use of Vipassana meditation to reduce depression and improve empathy and self-awareness in drug dependent women at a rehabilitation centre. Design/methodology/approach - Mixed methods were employed. Data were collected in a randomised controlled trial and focus group interviews with 24 intervention subjects and 22 controls. Findings - Findings showed no significant differences in depression, empathy or mindfulness levels between intervention and control groups, but intervention subjects had a small decline in depression at one-month follow up. The focus group interviews showed that drug users had developed self-awareness, moral values and greater understanding of right and wrong acts. Originality/value - Findings suggest that Vipassana meditation which is cultural appropriate for Thai culture and religion, should be incorporated into treatments in rehabilitation centres to increase successful outcomes.

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泰国一家康复中心对女性吸毒者进行内观冥想的试点研究

目的——药物滥用已成为泰国的一个主要健康问题，导致大量过早死亡，需要在治疗和康复方案上花费大量资金。摘要本研究旨在探讨内观禅修对戒毒所吸毒妇女抑郁情绪的改善及共情和自我意识的改善。设计/方法论/方法-采用混合方法。数据通过随机对照试验和焦点小组访谈收集，涉及24名干预受试者和22名对照组。研究结果显示，干预组和对照组在抑郁、共情或正念水平上没有显著差异，但在一个月的随访中，干预组的抑郁程度略有下降。焦点小组访谈表明，吸毒者已经形成了自我意识、道德价值观和对正确与错误行为的更多理解。原创性/价值-研究结果表明，内观冥想在泰国文化和宗教中具有文化适应性，应纳入康复中心的治疗中，以增加成功的结果。

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来源期刊

Therapeutic Communities SUBSTANCE ABUSE-

CiteScore

0.50

自引率

50.00%

发文量

期刊介绍： The Journal publishes academic papers, case studies, empirical research and opinion. The Journal is interested in publishing papers that critically creatively engage with ideas drawn from a range of discourses: the therapeutic community movement and other related professional practice, psychoanalysis, art, literature, poetry, music, architecture, culture, education, philosophy, religion and environmental studies. It will be of value to those who work in health services, social services, voluntary and charitable organizations and for all professionals involved with staff teams in therapeutic and supportive organizations.