Do mindfulness-based interventions change brain function in people with substance dependence? A systematic review of the fMRI evidence.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to synthesize fMRI findings on how mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) affect brain function in individuals with substance use disorders (SUDs) and their associations with mindfulness, craving, and drug use.
Results Summary
MBIs in SUDs were associated with functional changes in brain pathways linked to mindfulness and addiction (e.g., anterior cingulate cortex and striatum), correlating with increased mindfulness, reduced craving, and lower drug use. However, the evidence remains limited, and more fMRI studies are needed.
Population
Individuals with substance use disorders (6 tobacco, 1 opioid).
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) | decrease | adverse psychosocial outcomes | people with substance use disorders (SUDs) | - | can mitigate | #1 |
Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) | neutral | function of brain pathways implicated in mindfulness and addiction (e.g., anterior cingulate cortex and striatum) | SUDs (6 tobacco and 1 opioid) | - | were associated with changes in | #2 |
Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) | increase | greater mindfulness | SUDs (6 tobacco and 1 opioid) | - | correlated with | #3 |
Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) | decrease | lower craving | SUDs (6 tobacco and 1 opioid) | - | correlated with | #4 |
Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) | decrease | lower drug quantity | SUDs (6 tobacco and 1 opioid) | - | correlated with | #5 |
BACKGROUND: Substance use disorders (SUDs) affect ~ 35 million people globally and are associated with strong cravings, stress, and brain alterations. Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) can mitigate the adverse psychosocial outcomes of SUDs, but the underlying neurobiology is unclear. Emerging findings were systematically synthesised from fMRI studies about MBI-associated changes in brain function in SUDs and their associations with mindfulness, drug quantity, and craving. METHODS: PsycINFO, Medline, CINAHL, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched. Seven studies met inclusion criteria. RESULTS: Group by time effects indicated that MBIs in SUDs (6 tobacco and 1 opioid) were associated with changes in the function of brain pathways implicated in mindfulness and addiction (e.g., anterior cingulate cortex and striatum), which correlated with greater mindfulness, lower craving and drug quantity. CONCLUSIONS: The evidence for fMRI-related changes with MBI in SUD is currently limited. More fMRI studies are required to identify how MBIs mitigate and facilitate recovery from aberrant brain functioning in SUDs.