Efficacy of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Self-Esteem, Psychological Well-being, and Happiness in Substance Use Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Puspanjali Borthakur, Thaddeus Alfonso
Research Square November 3, 2026 preprint DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-10814884/v1 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Single-masked randomized controlled trial |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 71 |
| Population | Adult men receiving inpatient rehabilitation for substance use disorder at two centers in Bangalore, India |
| Interventions | Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) treatment as usual (TAU) |
| Duration | 8-week intervention; assessments at baseline, post-intervention, and one- and three-month follow-up |
| Topics | Addiction Meditation |
| Key findings | Scores on self-esteem, psychological well-being, and happiness improved significantly over time in both groups (all p<.001). MBCT plus treatment as usual produced significantly greater gains than treatment as usual alone for happiness (significant time-by-group interaction, partial eta-squared=.087) and for self-esteem on mean gain scores, but not for psychological well-being, whose interaction was not significant. The authors conclude MBCT is a valuable adjunctive intervention for SUD rehabilitation, with the most robust benefit for happiness. |
Abstract
Abstract Substance use disorder (SUD), a major public health concern across the world, and also in India, is commonly associated with low self-esteem, reduced psychological well-being, and diminished happiness. Yet, rigorous trials of psychosocial interventions targeting these outcomes in rehabilitation settings remain scarce. This single-masked randomized controlled trial (RCT) examined the efficacy of an 8-week Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) program, delivered alongside treatment as usual (TAU), in improving self-esteem, psychological well-being, and happiness among adults with SUD. Seventy-one men receiving inpatient rehabilitation at two centers in Bangalore, India, were block-randomized to an MBCT-plus-TAU group (n=36) or a TAU-only group (n=35); 30 participants per group completed all four assessments (baseline, post-intervention, and one- and three-month follow-up). Across the full sample, scores on all three outcomes improved significantly over time (all p<.001). A significant time x group interaction emerged for happiness (F(3,198)=5.51, p=.001, partial eta-squared=.087), with the MBCT group showing greater gains than the TAU group; interactions for psychological well-being and self-esteem were not significant. Mean gain scores indicated significantly greater improvements with MBCT than with TAU for happiness and self-esteem, but not for psychological well-being. These findings support MBCT as a valuable adjunctive intervention for SUD rehabilitation, with the most robust benefit observed for happiness. Trial registration: Clinical Trials Registry of India, CTRI/2025/09/094309 (Registered on 08/09/2025). Details are available at http://ctri.nic.in.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on addiction, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cites 8
- Prevention of relapse/recurrence in major depression by mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 2000
- The Mindfulness-to-Meaning Theory: Extensions, Applications, and Challenges at the Attention–Appraisal–Emotion Interface Psychological Inquiry October 2, 2015
- Mindfulness-based programs for substance use disorders: a systematic review of manualized treatments Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy July 29, 2020
- The Role of Mindfulness in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: Cultivating Present-Moment Awareness August 9, 2023
- Mindfulness-based treatment of addiction: current state of the field and envisioning the next wave of research. Addiction Science & Clinical Practice April 18, 2018
and 3 more in the library