Efficacy of Mindfulness Integrated Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Psychological Distress among Patients with Substance Use Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Pakistan Journal of Positive Psychology August 3, 2026 DOI: 10.67785/pjpp.3.148 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 40 |
| Population | Adults using methamphetamine-type stimulants in rehabilitation centers in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, Pakistan |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-Integrated Cognitive Behavior Therapy (MICBT) |
| Duration | 10 sessions, 2 hours per session |
| Measures | Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21) |
| Topics | Addiction Meditation |
| Key findings | MICBT significantly reduced psychological distress compared with treatment as usual, with significant reductions in depression, anxiety, and stress on the DASS-21. The authors conclude that MICBT was highly effective for psychological distress associated with substance use. |
Abstract
Substance use disorders represent a significant public health concern in Pakistan, with methamphetamine showing increasing prevalence, particularly among adults. In light of the escalating incidence of methamphetamine-type stimulant (MTS) consumption observed in Pakistan, this research endeavor sought to assess the efficacy of Mindfulness integrated cognitive behavior therapy (MICBT) for psychological distress among individuals engaged in the utilization of methamphetamine-type stimulant. A randomized controlled trial design was employed with methamphetamine-type stimulant users who were in rehabilitation centers in Islamabad and Rawalpindi. The Purposive sampling method was used to select 40 participants, who were randomly assigned to an experimental group and a control group (20 members per group). The experimental group received the MICBT intervention (10 sessions, 2 hours per session), whereas the control group received Treatment as Usual (TAU). The data was collected by using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21). The data was analyzed by using via an independent sample t-test to evaluate the significance of differences in the measured outcomes. The results indicated that MICBT intervention significantly reduced psychological distress (t = -21.63, p < .001) among participants in the experimental group compared to the control group. Furthermore, significant reductions were observed in Depression (t = -9.46, p < .001), Stress (t = 7.48, p < .001), and anxiety (t = 9.52, p < .001) in the experimental group following the intervention. In conclusion. Mindfulness-Integrated Cognitive Behavior Therapy (MICBT) was highly effective in reducing psychological distress associated with substance use.