Motivational communication with patients dependent on substances: a psychological intervention intended to be therapeutic 

Samuel Pombo
Clinical Psychologist at the Psychiatry Department of Santa Maria Hospital; Assistant Lecturer of Medical Psychology at the Faculty of Medicine of Lisbon
Author’s contact details: Psicologia Médica da Faculdade Medicina de Lisboa; Serviço de Psiquiatria, Piso 2 - Av. Prof. Egas Moniz, 1649-028 Lisboa. e-mail: samuelpombo@gmail.com

Abstract

This work aims to explore some of the most important psychological mechanisms inherent to substance addiction and to the psychological and relational intervention with patients addicted to substances. The work focuses on the role of substance consumptions in affection regulation and on the perspective of motivation in the context of the cognitive defence mechanisms that preserve consumptions and keep the mental balance. Later, this paper will examine the foundations of the therapeutical relation and the most direct cognitive-behavioural models that support the motivational point of view of change.
The work concludes that the psychological intervention with substance-addicted persons must follow psychological intervention scientific guidelines to ensure that the clinical meeting attains the appropriate therapeutical goal.

Keywords: psychological intervention; motivational interviewing; addictions

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