Effective Interventions for Social-Psychological Rehabilitation in Addiction Recovery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Publisher



A Karbasi AFSANEH ; Nh Mashak Narjes HAJPOOR ; Fh Estalkhi Fereshteh HASANI ; T Jafarian TAYYEBEH ; N Babaeian NASRIN ; Z Mirzaee ZAHRA ; M Khalvati MALIHEH ; M Babakhanian MASOUDEH
Source: Middle East Journal of Rehabilitation and Health Studies Published:2025

Abstract

Context: This review examines effective interventions for social-psychological rehabilitation in addiction recovery. Data Sources: The study was conducted in English using the PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases with related MeSH terms. Study Selection: The quality assessment was performed utilizing the CONSORT statement for randomized trials of non-pharmacologic treatments. Publication bias was assessed by analyzing the Egger test. Data Extraction: The primary outcome was the review of social and psychological rehabilitation on addiction recovery, and the secondary outcome was the meta-analysis of included data from pre-to post-test assessments for psychological rehabilitation. The statistical analysis was conducted using Stata (version 14). Results: Ten studies were included in the systematic review, and six in the meta-analysis. Three main categories were identified based on the interventional studies: The role of partner/significant other, emotional support, and social network. The results of the meta-analysis reveal extremely high variability among studies (I2 = 95.8%, Tau2 = 6.4263), attributable to differences in intervention methods, sample characteristics, and measurement tools. While some evidence indicates positive effects, the overall results do not support a statistically significant benefit of psychological rehabilitation in improving addiction cessation skills. Subgroup analyses highlight inconsistent outcomes for acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), emphasizing the need to clarify core concepts such as acceptance and committed action. Variability in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) outcomes appears linked to differences in session content, duration, and therapist experience. Conversely, compassion-focused therapy (CFT) demonstrated no heterogeneity and a significant, strong effect, positioning it as a promising approach for future interventions. Conclusions: Given the high prevalence of psychosocial issues among addicted individuals in rehabilitation and the critical role of social support in achieving lasting recovery, a review study on the effectiveness of psychosocial interventions is clearly justified. Such a review can identify the most promising approaches for fostering social identity change, addressing diverse rehabilitation goals (like restoring socio-psychological mechanisms and building social skills), and ultimately facilitating successful societal reintegration for individuals battling addiction. © 2025 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.