Mindfulness training modifies cognitive, affective, and physiological mechanisms implicated in alcohol dependence: results of a randomized controlled pilot trial.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine whether mindfulness training could disrupt stress-precipitated alcohol relapse by targeting key mechanisms in alcohol dependence.
Results Summary
Mindfulness training significantly reduced stress and thought suppression, improved physiological recovery from alcohol cues, and modulated alcohol attentional bias compared to a support group. The findings suggest mindfulness may be a promising alternative treatment for stress-related relapse in alcohol-dependent individuals.
Population
53 alcohol-dependent adults (79.2% male, 60.4% African American, 52.8% earning <$20,000 annually) from a therapeutic community in the urban southeastern U.S.
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
mindfulness training | decrease | stress | alcohol-dependent adults | - | significantly reduced | #1 |
mindfulness training | decrease | thought suppression | alcohol-dependent adults | - | significantly reduced | #2 |
mindfulness training | increase | physiological recovery from alcohol cues | alcohol-dependent adults | - | increased | #3 |
mindfulness training | neutral | alcohol attentional bias | alcohol-dependent adults | - | modulated | #4 |
Mindfulness training may disrupt the risk chain of stress-precipitated alcohol relapse. In 2008, 53 alcohol-dependent adults (mean age = 40.3) recruited from a therapeutic community located in the urban southeastern U.S. were randomized to mindfulness training or a support group. Most participants were male (79.2%), African American (60.4%), and earned less than $20,000 annually (52.8%). Self-report measures, psychophysiological cue-reactivity, and alcohol attentional bias were analyzed via repeated measures ANOVA. Thirty-seven participants completed the interventions. Mindfulness training significantly reduced stress and thought suppression, increased physiological recovery from alcohol cues, and modulated alcohol attentional bias. Hence, mindfulness training appears to target key mechanisms implicated in alcohol dependence, and therefore may hold promise as an alternative treatment for stress-precipitated relapse among vulnerable members of society.