Brief Body Scan Meditation Intervention on Positive and Negative Affect among Alcohol Dependence Patients

Although effect of mindfulness based stress reduction (MBSR) are effective and highly valued, but all the patients will not be interested due to extensive time and cost. Brief interventions (e.g., body scans) may be used by individuals, at a lower cost and with little training.

Aim: To study the effect of body scan meditation on negative and positive affect in patients with alcohol dependence.

Method: The present study was conducted on patients with alcohol dependence in Central Institute of Psychiatry, Ranchi. The study samples were collected from 30 in-patients with alcohol dependence syndrome (ADS) using a self-rating scale. After that the subjects who were randomly assigned to receiving body scan meditation underwent 45 minutes guided meditation and 15 minutes discussion for one week. Subjects assigned to other group did not receive body scan meditation. However, both the groups received pharmacological treatment as usual. After the intervention, subjects in both the groups were revaluated.

Results: Patients in experimental group had significantly less severe dependence on alcohol and did not show significant reduction in negative affect and increment in positive affect after one week intervention of body scan meditation.

Conclusion: There is no significant reduction in negative and increment in positive affect after receiving one week of body scan meditation intervention in alcohol dependence patients.