Brief Contextual-Behavioral vs Twelve-Step Intervention for Emotion Regulation in Substance Use: Pilot Study

This study evaluated the effectiveness of a behavioral-contextual intervention, delivered in 11 weekly individual sessions (45 min each), aimed at improving emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and psychological flexibility among adults in residential rehabilitation for problematic substance use in a Mexican therapeutic community. The protocol combined functional analysis, DBT (SUD adaptations) and ACT techniques, practice materials (mindfulness audios, worksheets) and an adapted behavioral monitoring system. The design was quasi-experimental pre-post with a Treatment Group (TG; n = 19) and a Comparison Group (CG; n = 17) receiving usual care (12-step program). Primary measures were DERS, DTS, ERQ and AAQ-II administered at baseline and 7 weeks post-baseline. Implementation fidelity was supported by a manual, monthly supervision and standardized records. Analyses used robust methods (nonparametric tests, permutational ANCOVA, bootstrap, robust estimators).

• Behavioral-Contextual Emotion Regulation Program (BCERP) (Behavioral), also known as Behavioral-Contextual Intervention for Emotional Regulation in Addictive Behaviors, BCERP for Substance Use Rehabilitation: The Behavioral-Contextual Emotion Regulation Program (BCERP) is a structured emotional regulation skills training intervention based on Applied Behavior Analysis principles and adapted to a therapeutic community setting for individuals undergoing substance use rehabilitation. Unlike interventions focused solely on psychoeducation, BCERP integrates intensive skills practice, gradual exposure to high-distress situations, and real-time feedback provided by trained therapists. The program includes modules on distress tolerance, behavioral restructuring, functional identification of emotions, and the strengthening of alternative, non-substance-related behaviors. BCERP is distinguished by its emphasis on continuous supervision, the use of contextual therapeutic language, and systematic progress monitoring through weekly behavioral indicators.

Primary outcomes

• Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS-24 Total + Subscales) [Baseline to 7 weeks post-baseline]: The Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale - 24 item version (DERS-24), validated in Mexican populations, is a self-report measure assessing emotion regulation difficulties. The total score and five subscales are analyzed: Emotional Rejection, Emotional Dyscontrol, Emotional Interference, Emotional Inattention, and Emotional Confusion. Higher scores indicate greater difficulties in emotion regulation (worse outcome). Changes in total and subscale scores from baseline to post-intervention will be analyzed as continuous outcomes. No validated clinical cut-off scores exist; exploratory cohort analyses, when conducted, will use pre-specified sample-based thresholds (e.g., median or tertiles).
• Distress Tolerance Scale (DTS) - Spanish Version [Baseline to 7 weeks post-baseline.]: Change in Distress Tolerance Scale (DTS) subscale scores - Tolerance, Appraisal, Absorption, Regulation. Change (Post - Pre) in DTS subscale scores. Subscale scoring (sum of items): Tolerance (3-15; higher = greater tolerance), Appraisal (6-30; higher = greater tolerance), Absorption (3-15; higher = greater tolerance), Regulation (3-15; higher = greater tolerance). Item 6 is reverse-scored.

Secondary outcomes

• Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ) - Cognitive Reappraisal and Expressive Suppression Subscales [Baseline to 7 weeks.]: The Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ) is a 10-item self-report measure assessing habitual emotion regulation strategies. Two subscales are analyzed: Cognitive Reappraisal (6 items; score range 6-42), where higher scores indicate greater use of adaptive emotion regulation, and Expressive Suppression (4 items; score range 4-28), where higher scores indicate greater use of suppression, considered a less adaptive strategy. Primary analyses will examine continuous change in subscale scores from baseline to post-intervention. In secondary analyses, participants will be classified as responders or non-responders using a pre-specified cohort threshold defined as a change of at least 0.5 standard deviations from baseline (increase for reappraisal, decrease for suppression).
• Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II (AAQ-II) [Baseline to 7 weeks.]: The Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II (AAQ-II) is a 7-item self-report measure assessing psychological flexibility and experiential avoidance. Total scores range from 7 to 49, with higher scores indicating greater experiential avoidance and lower psychological flexibility (worse outcome). Primary analyses will examine continuous change in total AAQ-II scores from baseline to post-intervention. In secondary analyses, participants will be classified as responders or non-responders using a pre-specified cohort threshold defined as a decrease of at least 0.5 standard deviations from baseline, indicating a clinically meaningful increase in psychological flexibility.

Sex: All, ages: 18 Years to 68 Years, accepts healthy volunteers

Inclusion Criteria:

* Age ≥ 18 years.
* Resident of the participating therapeutic community undergoing treatment for problematic substance use or alcohol.
* Capacity to provide informed consent and complete self-report assessments.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Active psychosis or unstable psychiatric comorbidity that precludes participation.
* Severe cognitive impairment preventing participation.
* Refusal to participate or unavailability to complete baseline and post assessments.

• Lauro Gutiérrez Castro, Principal investigator, Comunidad Terapéutica Under The Tree