Interoceptive attention or merely distraction? An examination of the effects of brief breath counting training on stress-induced alcohol-seeking behavior.
Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology February 1, 2023 Luke Herchenroeder, Eleanor Williams, Emma Wedell et al.
A brief mindfulness exercise (breath counting) and a simple distraction task (cross counting) both reduced stress-induced alcohol cravings to a similar degree in young adult drinkers. The study randomly assigned 278 university students to breath counting, distraction, stress-only, or no-stress conditions. Stress increased preference for alcohol pictures, but both breath counting and distraction attenuated this effect equally, and the difference faded in the second half of the choice test. The authors argue that the therapeutic effect of breath counting on stress-induced alcohol-seeking may stem from distraction or cognitive load rather than a unique state of mindful acceptance.