Smartphone-Delivered MBRP and Quality of Life among Individuals With Opioid Use Disorder: A Pilot Before-After Study.
Shadi Dashtbani, Hadi Ramesh, Narges Norouzkhani, Ali Saghebi, Atefeh Khoshkangin, Mohammad Reza Mazaheri Habibi
Health science reports September 2026 DOI: 10.1002/hsr2.73103 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Single-arm before-after pilot study Randomized Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 14 |
| Population | Male participants with opioid use disorder receiving methadone maintenance treatment at two addiction treatment clinics |
| Interventions | Audio-based mobile MBRP application Methadone maintenance treatment |
| Duration | 8-week intervention, 3-month follow-up |
| Measures | SF-36 |
| Topics | Addiction |
| Keywords | Methadone maintenance treatment Mindfulness‐based relapse prevention Mobile health Pilot study Quality of life |
| Key points | Mean SF-36 scores increased from 40.34 at baseline to 66.57 post-intervention and remained above baseline at 3-month follow-up (57.76), with significant improvements from baseline to post-intervention and follow-up. Session completion was 92.9%, and 78.6% of participants remained free of documented illicit opioid use at follow-up. |
Abstract
Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention (MBRP) combines mindfulness practice with relapse-prevention strategies and has demonstrated efficacy in improving psychological well-being among individuals with substance use disorders. This pilot study evaluated quality-of-life changes following an audio-based mobile MBRP application delivered as an adjunct to methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) among individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD). This single-arm before-after study included 14 male participants with OUD receiving MMT at two addiction treatment clinics. Participants used the MBRP application for 8 weeks alongside routine care. Quality of life was assessed using the SF-36 at baseline, post-intervention, and 3-month follow-up. Session completion was monitored through weekly clinician-verified contacts. Substance use and relapse status were monitored descriptively as secondary clinical indicators. Mean SF-36 scores increased from 40.34 ± 11.26 at baseline to 66.57 ± 13.39 post-intervention and remained above baseline at follow-up (57.76 ± 10.89). Significant improvements were observed from baseline to post-intervention (mean difference = 26.23, 95% CI: 17.73-34.73, p < 0.001, Cohen's dz = 1.78) and from baseline to follow-up (mean difference = 17.42, 95% CI: 11.84-22.99, p < 0.001, Cohen's dz = 1.80). Session-completion rate was 92.9% (mean = 7.43 sessions per participant). At follow-up, 11 participants (78.6%) remained free of documented illicit opioid use; three (21.4%) had documented relapse events, reported descriptively given the uncontrolled design. Participation in the mobile MBRP application was associated with quality-of-life improvements remaining above baseline at 3-month follow-up, supporting feasibility in routine addiction-treatment settings. Randomized controlled trials with addiction-specific outcomes, standardized acceptability instruments, and objective engagement analytics are needed to establish effectiveness.
Comparable studies
Other non-randomized and open-label trials on addiction, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pilot study of the 5-HT2AR agonist psilocybin in the treatment of tobacco addiction Psychiatrically healthy nicotine-dependent smokers | 2014 | Open-label pilot study | n = 15 |
| Psilocybin-Occasioned Mystical Experiences in the Treatment of Tobacco Addiction Smokers | 2015 | Open-label pilot study | n = 15 |
| Ketamine Psychedelic Therapy (KPT): A Review of the Results of Ten Years of Research Alcoholic patients | 1997 | Controlled clinical trial | n = 211 |
| First study of safety and tolerability of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine-assisted psychotherapy in patients with alcohol use disorder. Patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD) following community alcohol detoxification | 2021 | Open-label safety and tolerability proof-of-concept study | n = 14 |
| The Psychedelic Debriefing in Alcohol Dependence Treatment: Illustrating Key Change Phenomena through Qualitative Content Analysis of Clinical Sessions Participants in a psilocybin-assisted treatment study for alcohol dependence | 2018 | Open-label pilot (proof-of-concept) study with qualitative content analysis | n = 17 |
Citations in the library
Cites 2
- Mindfulness-based treatment of addiction: current state of the field and envisioning the next wave of research. Addiction Science & Clinical Practice April 18, 2018
- Craving to quit: psychological models and neurobiological mechanisms of mindfulness training as treatment for addictions. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors May 28, 2012