{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,8]],"date-time":"2026-07-08T16:46:35Z","timestamp":1783529195180,"version":"3.55.0"},"reference-count":40,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"3","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,19]],"date-time":"2026-03-19T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1773878400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Behavioral Sciences"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Substance use disorder (SUD) is a global problem with serious psychological, physiological, and social consequences. Seeking professional help is often delayed due to a lack of self-recognition of addiction, frequently sustained by self-deception. Although self-deception is a core feature of SUD, the mechanisms underlying it remain insufficiently studied. This research examines the role of impulsivity and self-efficacy in predicting self-deceptive behaviors\u2014manipulation and mystification\u2014in individuals undergoing addiction rehabilitation. The sample consisted of 122 Spanish participants from therapeutic communities (Mage = 44.99, SD = 10.58; 82.8% male) who completed the Self-Deception Questionnaire (SDQ-12), the Impulsive Control Scale Ram\u00f3n y Cajal (ECIRyC), and the Drug Taking Confidence Questionnaire (DTCQ). Results showed that impulsivity significantly predicted both manipulation and mystification. Manipulation was also associated with self-efficacy in managing temptation and duration of addiction, highlighting its multifaceted nature. In contrast, mystification was predicted solely by impulsivity, suggesting a stronger dependence on internal psychological processes rather than contextual factors. These findings underscore the importance of targeting impulsivity and enhancing self-efficacy in addiction treatment. Interventions such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and mindfulness-based approaches may be particularly effective in reducing self-deceptive behaviors and supporting long-term recovery.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/bs16030456","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,19]],"date-time":"2026-03-19T15:38:01Z","timestamp":1773934681000},"page":"456","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Self-Deception in Addiction Rehabilitation: Impulsivity and Self-Efficacy as Predictors of Manipulation and Mystification"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"16","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0005-1922-4463","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Javier","family":"Sampedro","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Psychology, University of Castilla-La Mancha, 02071 Albacete, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6773-2666","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Llanos","family":"Mer\u00edn","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Psychology, University of Castilla-La Mancha, 02071 Albacete, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5567-8589","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Laura","family":"Ros","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Psychology, University of Castilla-La Mancha, 02071 Albacete, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-7040-3249","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Jorge J.","family":"Ricarte","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Psychology, University of Castilla-La Mancha, 02071 Albacete, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,19]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"78","DOI":"10.1016\/j.drugalcdep.2010.12.025","article-title":"Combined goal management training and mindfulness meditation improve executive functions and decision-making performance in abstinent polysubstance abusers","volume":"117","author":"Alfonso","year":"2011","journal-title":"Drug and Alcohol Dependence"},{"key":"ref_2","unstructured":"Annis, H., and Martin, G. 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