Mindfulness and Modification Therapy for Behavioral Dysregulation: A Comparison Trial Focused on Substance Use and Aggression.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of a transdiagnostic mindfulness-based therapy (MMT) in reducing multiple dysregulated behaviors (alcohol/drug use, physical aggression, verbal aggression) compared to treatment as usual (TAU) in self-referred women.
Results Summary
MMT showed significant and large decreases in alcohol/drug use, physical aggression, and verbal aggression, with greater improvements than TAU in alcohol/drug use and physical aggression. Effects were maintained at follow-up, and MMT also improved mindfulness.
Population
Self-referred women with behavioral dysregulation (alcohol/drug use, aggression).
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
20 weeks
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
mindfulness and modification therapy (MMT) | decrease | alcohol/drug use | self-referred women | - | significant and large decreases | #1 |
mindfulness and modification therapy (MMT) | decrease | physical aggression | self-referred women | - | significant and large decreases | #2 |
mindfulness and modification therapy (MMT) | decrease | verbal aggression | self-referred women | - | significant and large decreases | #3 |
mindfulness and modification therapy (MMT) | decrease | alcohol/drug use | self-referred women | - | significantly greater decreases | #4 |
mindfulness and modification therapy (MMT) | decrease | physical aggression | self-referred women | - | significantly greater decreases | #5 |
mindfulness and modification therapy (MMT) | no change | alcohol/drug use, physical aggression, verbal aggression | self-referred women | - | minimal-to-no deterioration of effects | #6 |
treatment as usual (TAU) | decrease | verbal aggression | self-referred women | - | significant decreases | #7 |
mindfulness and modification therapy (MMT) | increase | mindfulness | self-referred women | - | greater improvements | #8 |
OBJECTIVES: Disorders of behavioral dysregulation often involve more than one dsyregulated behavior (e.g., drug abuse and aggression, alcohol abuse and gambling). The high co-occurrence suggests the need of a transdiagnostic treatment that can be customized to target multiple specific behaviors. METHOD: The current pilot study compared a 20-week, individual transdiagnostic therapy (mindfulness and modification therapy [MMT]) versus treatment as usual (TAU) in targeting alcohol problems, drug use, physical aggression, and verbal aggression in self-referred women. Assessments were administered at baseline, post-intervention, and 2-month follow-up. RESULTS: Wilcoxon signed-ranked tests and multilevel modeling showed that MMT (n = 13) displayed (a) significant and large decreases in alcohol/drug use, physical aggression, and verbal aggression; (b) significantly greater decreases in alcohol/drug use and physical aggression than did TAU (n = 8); and (c) minimal-to-no deterioration of effects at follow-up. Both conditions showed significant decreases in verbal aggression, with no statistically significant difference between conditions. MMT also displayed greater improvements in mindfulness. CONCLUSIONS: Preliminary findings support the feasibility and efficacy of MMT in decreasing multiple dysregulated behaviors.