Formal mindfulness practice predicts reductions in PTSD symptom severity following a mindfulness-based intervention for women with co-occurring PTSD and substance use disorder.
Vanessa C Somohano, Josh Kaplan, Aurora G Newman, Maya E O'Neil, Travis Lovejoy
Addiction Science & Clinical Practice September 16, 2022 DOI: 10.1186/s13722-022-00333-2 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Secondary analysis of a pilot randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 23 |
| Population | Women diagnosed with co-occurring PTSD and substance use disorder |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-based relapse prevention |
| Duration | 8-session intervention, 6-month follow-up |
| Topics | Addiction Meditation PTSD |
| Keywords | Craving Dual diagnosis Mindfulness-based interventions Women |
| Registration | NCT03505749 |
| Key findings | Greater duration of formal mindfulness practice predicted reduced PTSD symptoms six months following treatment, while informal practice did not predict any outcomes. |
Abstract
Women with co-occurring posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance use disorder (SUD) experience systemic barriers that place them in danger of poorer treatment outcomes. Some mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) have demonstrated efficacy in reducing PTSD and SUD symptoms. Mindfulness practice is a core component of MBIs, thought to elicit and maintain positive behavioral change; however, no research to our knowledge has assessed the role of mindfulness practice on sustained treatment gains among women with co-occurring PTSD-SUD. Such research is necessary to better inform MBIs for dually diagnosed women. This secondary analysis assessed whether post-intervention formal and informal mindfulness practice predicted reductions in PTSD symptoms and substance craving 6 months following an 8-session mindfulness-based relapse prevention intervention for women diagnosed with co-occurring PTSD-SUD (N = 23). Data were derived from a pilot randomized controlled trial evaluating the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a trauma-integrated mindfulness-based relapse prevention program for women with co-occurring PTSD-SUD. Greater duration of formal mindfulness practice (i.e., minutes per practice) predicted reduced total PTSD symptoms ([Formula: see text] = - .670, p < .00), trauma-related avoidance ([Formula: see text] = - .564, p = .01), arousal and reactivity ([Formula: see text] = - .530, p = .02), and negative cognitions and mood ([Formula: see text] = - .780, p < .01) six months following treatment. Informal practice did not predict any outcomes. This research highlights the potential role of formal mindfulness practice in sustaining reductions in PTSD symptoms over time among women with co-occurring PTSD-SUD. Further study of strategies to promote ongoing formal mindfulness practice in this population following a MBI are warranted. Trial registration The parent trial was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (Identifier: NCT03505749).
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on PTSD, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cited by 3
- The acceptability and feasibility of a virtual mantram program for patients with posttraumatic stress disorder and substance use disorders: mixed method results. BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies January 2, 2024
- Effectiveness of Meditation Techniques in Treating Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) December 12, 2024
- Do Contemplative Practices Promote Trauma Recovery? A Narrative Review from 2018 to 2023. Healthcare November 7, 2025
Cites 15
- Defining mindfulness by how poorly I think I pay attention during everyday awareness and other intractable problems for psychology's (re)invention of mindfulness: Comment on Brown et al. (2011). Psychological Assessment 2011
- Meta-analytic evidence for effects of mindfulness training on dimensions of self-reported dispositional mindfulness. Psychological Assessment 2016
- Mindfulness-Based Interventions for the Treatment of Substance and Behavioral Addictions: A Systematic Review Frontiers in Psychiatry March 29, 2018
- An Exploration of Formal and Informal Mindfulness Practice and Associations with Wellbeing Mindfulness May 21, 2018
- Does practice quality mediate the relationship between practice time and outcome in mindfulness-based stress reduction? Journal of Counseling Psychology July 25, 2019
and 10 more in the library