Mindfulness as a predictor of cognitive-behavioral therapy outcomes in inner-city adults with posttraumatic stress and substance dependence.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine whether baseline mindfulness predicted lower PTSD severity and greater sustained abstinence in adults with PTSD and substance use disorders undergoing a 12-week cognitive-behavioral treatment program.
Results Summary
Higher baseline mindfulness predicted lower end-of-treatment PTSD severity, particularly for intrusion, negative alterations in cognitions and mood, and arousal symptoms, but not avoidance symptoms or sustained abstinence.
Population
53 inner-city adults (51% women; 75.5% African American; mean age 45.42) with at least four DSM-5 PTSD symptoms and current DSM-IV substance dependence.
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
12 weeks
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
mindfulness | decrease | end-of-treatment PTSD severity | 53 inner-city adults meeting at least four current symptoms of DSM-5 PTSD and current (DSM-IV) substance dependence | - | predicted lower | #1 |
mindfulness | no change | longest sustained abstinence during a 12-week cognitive-behavioral treatment program | 53 inner-city adults meeting at least four current symptoms of DSM-5 PTSD and current (DSM-IV) substance dependence | - | did not predict | #2 |
mindfulness | decrease | intrusion symptoms | 53 inner-city adults meeting at least four current symptoms of DSM-5 PTSD and current (DSM-IV) substance dependence | - | predicted lower | #3 |
mindfulness | decrease | negative alterations in cognitions and mood symptoms | 53 inner-city adults meeting at least four current symptoms of DSM-5 PTSD and current (DSM-IV) substance dependence | - | predicted lower | #4 |
mindfulness | decrease | arousal and reactivity symptoms | 53 inner-city adults meeting at least four current symptoms of DSM-5 PTSD and current (DSM-IV) substance dependence | - | predicted lower | #5 |
mindfulness | no change | avoidance symptoms | 53 inner-city adults meeting at least four current symptoms of DSM-5 PTSD and current (DSM-IV) substance dependence | - | did not predict | #6 |
The co-occurrence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance use disorders (SUD) is highly prevalent and difficult-to-treat. Mindfulness, defined as nonjudgmental attention to and awareness of present-moment experiences, represents a targetable mechanism with potential to predict and improve treatment outcomes for PTSD/SUD populations. We hypothesized that greater self-reported mindfulness at baseline (pre-treatment) would predict (a) lower end-of-treatment PTSD severity and (b) greater longest sustained abstinence during a 12-week cognitive-behavioral treatment program. Participants included 53 inner-city adults meeting at least four current symptoms of DSM-5 PTSD and current (DSM-IV) substance dependence (51% women; 75.5% African American; Mage = 45.42, SD = 9.99). Hierarchical regression analysis results indicated that higher levels of baseline mindfulness predicted lower end-of-treatment PTSD severity but not longest sustained abstinence from the primary substance of choice. Post hoc exploration of end-of-treatment PTSD symptom clusters indicated that higher baseline mindfulness predicted lower intrusion, negative alterations in cognitions and mood, and arousal and reactivity symptoms but not avoidance symptoms. Clinical and research implications are discussed.