Aims: In this comparative study, we aimed to investigate the effectiveness of group reality therapy versus desipramine pharmacotherapy in reducing the craving and relapse of methamphetamine-dependent patients.
Methods: This semi-experimental research was conducted using a control group and two experimental groups of reality therapy and desipramine pharmacotherapy. The statistical population of this study included all methamphetamine-dependent patients under methadone treatment who were referred to the health clinics of Yazd city, Iran. We selected 30 patients using convenience sampling and then categorized them randomly into three groups of reality therapy, desipramine pharmacotherapy, and control. In the pre-test stage, the risk questionnaire was administered to evaluate the stimulants. The first experimental group attended 10 reality therapy sessions once a weak and was assessed immediately after the treatment. The data were analyzed using the covariance analysis.
Results: The findings showed no significant difference between the total mean score of the reality therapy and desipramine pharmacotherapy groups (F= 3.289, P= 0.087). Hence, these two interventions did not affect attenuating craving to use the drugs. To check the homogeneity presumptions of the covariance matrix and variances of the two groups, the Box (6.241) and Levine (0.250) tests were applied, respectively. The results about the experimental groups (Reality therapy and Desipramine group) compared to the control group were meaningful.
Conclusion: There was no significant difference between reality therapy and desipramine pharmacotherapy groups in reducing the craving to use the drugs.  The scope of changes showed that craving for drug consumption reduced in reality therapy (51.0) and desipramine pharmacotherapy (36.0) groups.