Goal Management Training for Methamphetamine Addiction

GMT+ (i.e., an abbreviated and population [methamphetamine use disorder]-tailored adaptation of GMT [Levine et al., 2011]) is a therapist-guided group-based cognitive remediation intervention that includes instruction and practise tasks to train the executive functions that facilitate goal setting, self-regulation and advantageous decision-making.

The program includes 4 modules / sessions delivered via PowerPoint presentations, and a take-home “paper and pencil” journal to practise between sessions. Each session trains a specific executive function. Session 1 (Be Aware) trains sustained attention; participants are taught to notice when their thoughts are drifting and to apply mindfulness strategies to stay in the present moment. Session 2 (Pause) trains inhibitory control; participants are taught to ‘pause’ and refocus on a current task. Session 3 (Envision Goals) trains working memory; participants are taught strategies to maintain their goals “on line”. Session 4 (Decide) trains decision-making; participants are taught to apply future-based thinking and to use long-term goals to guide current decision-making. Each session provides instructional content, interactive activities to demonstrate how cognition-related errors can contribute to substance use, and related discussions. Facilitators will lead discussions about how these errors occur in everyday life and then provide strategies to strengthen cognitive control skills. In addition to the 4 sessions, participants are provided with a journal to engage in daily practise of the GMT+ strategies, aiding transfer of these skills to everyday life goals.

The first session will be conducted after each participant has undergone detoxification. GMT+ will be facilitated by clinical psychology doctoral students with a minimum of 6 years of training in psychology. The program will be delivered in a face to face group setting at urban residential rehabilitation centres and will include between 4-6 participants. There are four 90-minute weekly sessions, and four weeks of daily journal activities, which take approximately 10 minutes per day to complete.

Intervention adherence will be monitored with a session attendance checklist. The facilitators will mark down participant attendance at the beginning and end of each session, in order to record entire session attendance.