Satir model on self-esteem, family functioning, and treatment outcomes among Chinese men who use drugs: a pilot randomized controlled trial

Background: People who use drugs (PWUD) frequently experience diminished self-esteem and impaired family function, negatively affecting their treatment motivation and increasing the risk of relapse. This study examined the preliminary effectiveness of the Satir model-based intervention, a humanism-oriented psychotherapy, in enhancing self-esteem, family function, and treatment outcomes among Chinese men who use drugs (MWUD). Methods: Forty-five participants from a compulsory drug treatment center were randomly assigned to the Satir group (n = 22) or the control group (n = 23). The Satir group received a 10-session group intervention based on the Satir model over four weeks, while the control group received care as usual. Results: All 45 participants completed the baseline and post-test assessments. The results indicated that the Satir model-based intervention significantly improved self-esteem among the Satir group (p = 0.014). However, there were no significant differences in drug craving, treatment motivation, and family functioning between the two groups at the post-test (all p values > 0.05). Conclusion: This study demonstrated the potential effect of the Satir model-based intervention in enhancing self-esteem among MWUD. Further research with larger samples and longer follow-up periods is recommended to provide a more comprehensive evaluation of the Satir model-based intervention for PWUD.