Efficacy of a Brief Mindfulness Intervention in Underserved Individuals Receiving Inpatient Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder: A Pilot Study.
Nicole R Kennelly, Suchismita Ray
Cureus June 2023 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.40525 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Pilot study, within-subjects pre-post design Randomized Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 15 |
| Population | Underserved individuals undergoing inpatient medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid use disorder (OUD) in New Jersey |
| Interventions | Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) brief mindfulness intervention |
| Duration | Six-week intervention with weekly one-hour sessions and 10 minutes of daily mindfulness practice |
| Topics | Addiction Meditation |
| Keywords | Drug craving Emotion regulation Mental health Mindfulness-based stress reduction Underserved population |
| Key points | Participants reported significantly decreased perceived stress, difficulty in emotional regulation, and drug craving after the six-week mindfulness intervention compared with before it. Anxiety decreased but was not statistically significant. The authors conclude that a brief mindfulness intervention can be effective for underserved individuals with OUD and recommend a larger randomized controlled trial with a control group. |
Abstract
Introduction: A mindfulness intervention is a mind-body complementary health approach that focuses on the relationships between mind, body, brain, and behavior. Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and similar mindfulness programs have been shown to decrease drug craving and relapse and improve emotional regulation, stress, pain, and anxiety. To our knowledge, a very limited number of studies have examined its efficacy in individuals from underserved populations. Underserved populations experience disparities in healthcare access, and as a result, see poorer addiction-related outcomes. The goal of this pilot study was to utilize an evidence-based, neuroscience-informed brief mindfulness intervention to improve mental health and decrease substance use behavior in a vulnerable, underserved population in New Jersey suffering from opioid use disorder (OUD).
Methods: We implemented a brief MBSR intervention in 15 underserved individuals undergoing inpatient medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for OUD. Individuals received weekly intervention sessions lasting one hour over six weeks. Furthermore, they practiced mindfulness for 10 minutes daily. Participants completed pre-and post-mindfulness intervention surveys to examine their mental well-being, drug craving, perceived stress, and emotional regulation.
Results: Within-subjects t-test results showed that compared to pre-intervention, participants showed significantly decreased perceived stress (t(14) =2.401, p=.015) and significantly decreased difficulty in emotional regulation (t(13) =3.426, p=.002 ) at post-intervention. They also showed significantly decreased drug craving post-intervention (t(14) =5.501, p=.<001). Anxiety decreased post-intervention but was not statistically significant (t(14) =1.582, p=.068).
Conclusion: This pilot study demonstrates that a brief mindfulness intervention can be effective for underserved individuals with OUD. Consistent with our hypothesis, results showed that a six-week mindfulness intervention could reduce everyday stress, drug craving, and difficulties in emotional regulation. In the future, a large-scale randomized control trial should be conducted with a control group to demonstrate the efficacy of this useful intervention.
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 10
- Mindfulness meditation–based pain relief: a mechanistic account Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences June 1, 2016
- The effects of a mindfulness‐based stress reduction program on stress, mindfulness self‐efficacy, and positive states of mind Stress and Health June 10, 2004
- Mindfulness and Meditation for Psoriasis: A Systematic Review Dermatologic Therapy September 14, 2022
- Perceptions of Mindfulness in a Low-Income, Primarily African American Treatment-Seeking Sample Mindfulness December 1, 2017
- Mindfulness meditation improves emotion regulation and reduces drug abuse. Drug and Alcohol Dependence June 1, 2016
and 5 more in the library