Psychology of Addictive Behaviors
August 28, 2006
Sarah Bowen, Katie Witkiewitz, Tiara M Dillworth et al.
495 citations
A Vipassana meditation course given in jail led to significant reductions in alcohol, marijuana, and crack cocaine use after release, compared to standard treatment. Participants also experienced fewer alcohol-related problems and psychiatric symptoms, along with improvements in positive psychosocial outcomes. The findings suggest mindfulness-based practices offer a viable alternative for individuals who have not succeeded with or do not wish to attend traditional addiction treatments.
Substance Abuse Treatment Prevention and Policy
July 29, 2020
J. Richard Korecki, Frank J. Schwebel, Victoria R. Votaw et al.
141 citations
Mindfulness-based interventions are as effective as established evidence-based treatments for substance use disorders, reducing the frequency and quantity of alcohol and drug use, substance-related problems, and craving, while increasing abstinence rates. A systematic review of 30 randomized controlled trials published between January 2016 and April 2020 updated earlier findings. Future research should focus on larger trials, optimal settings and protocols, patient populations most likely to benefit, and dissemination and implementation.
Psychol Addict Behav
October 26, 2017
Adam D. Wilson, Corey Roos, Charles S. Robinson et al.
42 citations
Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) are increasingly used to treat addictive behaviors, with over a dozen protocols now available. This review outlines the evidence for their efficacy and the mechanisms thought to underlie their effects. It also identifies unresolved implementation issues, including a lack of clear guidelines for training providers, adapting the traditional two-hour closed-cohort group format, delivering MBIs one-on-one, timing interventions at different stages of behavior change, using technology-based platforms, and enabling precision medicine. The authors suggest specific research directions to increase access to MBIs for clinicians and clients.
BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies
April 4, 2024
Michael Christopher, Sarah Bowen, Katie Witkiewitz et al.
9 citations
Law enforcement officers face high stress that harms mental health and can lead to aggression and excessive force. A multi-site, randomized, single-blind clinical feasibility trial tested mindfulness-based resilience training (MBRT) against stress management education and a no-intervention control. The study aimed to refine protocols for a future full-scale trial. Recruitment, retention, and acceptability of MBRT were high, and assessment and intervention protocols were delivered with fidelity. Several physiological and self-report measures showed responsiveness to change. These results prepare for a larger trial testing whether MBRT improves officer health and resilience and reduces aggression and excessive use of force, benefiting communities.
Social Neuroscience
February 1, 2019
Charles Robinson, Mika Armenta, Angela Combs et al.
Loving kindness meditation combined with transcranial direct current stimulation to the right temporoparietal junction led participants to rate neutral and positive images more positively after training, regardless of current strength. No effects on emotional intelligence were found, and no main effects of meditation, electrode placement, or current strength on affect ratings emerged. The interaction of electrode placement and meditation condition was significant, suggesting that loving kindness meditation may enhance positive affective experience when paired with stimulation of the right temporoparietal junction.
Addictive behaviors
October 1, 2007
Sarah Bowen, Katie Witkiewitz, Tiara M Dillworth et al.
Attempting to suppress thoughts about using substances can paradoxically increase substance use. Vipassana, a mindfulness meditation practice that emphasizes acceptance rather than suppression of unwanted thoughts, was previously shown to reduce substance use in incarcerated individuals. This follow-up study found that participants in a Vipassana course reported significantly less avoidance of thoughts compared to a control group receiving treatment as usual. This reduction in thought avoidance partially explained the course's positive effects on alcohol use and related consequences after release from incarceration.