Harmen Beurmanjer

47 Illness Perception in Patients with GUD 3 Conclusion Participants in the current study had mainly positive views towards GHB, while at the same time being aware of their GUD. On the one hand they mainly perceive GHB as a solution to their psychosocial problems, rather than the cause. On the other hand they see themselves as dependent on GHB, with many negative consequences. The substance is considered strongly rewarding, without short-term downsides, possibly due to the absence of a negative feedback loop. Problems start mainly after detoxification, when they are confronted with anxiety and dysphoria. The positive associations with GHB use stay even during severe GUD. This is likely to contribute to the high relapse and drop-out rates observed in this population. Participants reported a need for personalized treatment goals, which were mainly aimed towards dealing with psychiatric symptoms and social reintegration. Treatment programs might initially explore patients’ perceptions towards GHB and their treatment needs on psychosocial areas. Given the wide range and severity of problems that come with GUD, intensive treatment programs with attention for personal treatment goals could be considered. Future research should focus on studying the effectiveness of this approach.