Panacea Index Logo

Command Palette

Search for a command to run...

Mindfulness-induced self-transcendence promotes universal love with consequent effects on opioid misuse.

Behaviour research and therapy
April 1, 2024
Eric L Garland et al. (2 authors)
Randomized Controlled TrialJournal ArticleResearch Support, N.I.H., ExtramuralHuman StudyClinical
Study Details

Study Goal

The researchers aimed to determine whether mindfulness-induced self-transcendence promotes universal love and reduces opioid misuse in individuals with comorbid opioid misuse and chronic pain.

Results Summary

Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement (MORE) significantly increased self-transcendence, which mediated greater feelings of universal love, leading to reduced opioid craving and lower odds of misuse at follow-ups.

Population

Individuals with comorbid opioid misuse and chronic pain (n=187).

Effective Dosage

Not specified

Duration

8-week intervention with follow-ups at 1 and 9 months.

Interactions

None mentioned

Extracted Claims (5)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement (MORE)
increase
mindfulness-induced self-transcendence
participants with comorbid opioid misuse and chronic pain
-
significantly greater increases
#1
Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement (MORE)
increase
universal love
participants with comorbid opioid misuse and chronic pain
-
mediated the effect on increased feelings
#2
Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement (MORE)
increase
universal love
participants with comorbid opioid misuse and chronic pain
-
increased feelings
#3
increases in universal love
decrease
opioid craving
participants with comorbid opioid misuse and chronic pain
-
significantly predicted decreased
#4
increases in universal love
decrease
opioid misuse
participants with comorbid opioid misuse and chronic pain
-
significantly predicted lower odds
#5
Abstract

In addition to its health benefits, mindfulness has been theorized in classical contemplative frameworks to elicit self-transcendent experiences as a means of promoting universal love and compassion. Increasing feelings of love may be especially clinically relevant for the treatment of opioid misuse, in that addictive use of opioids dysregulates neurobiological processes implicated in the experience of love. Here we tested these hypotheses in a secondary analysis (n = 187) of data from a randomized clinical trial of Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement (MORE) versus supportive psychotherapy for comorbid opioid misuse and chronic pain. At pre- and post-treatment, participants completed a measure of state self-transcendence immediately following a laboratory-based mindfulness task. Through 9-month follow-up, we assessed changes in universal love and opioid misuse. Participants also completed ecological momentary assessments of opioid craving during the 8-week study interventions and for the following month. Compared to supportive psychotherapy, participants in MORE reported significantly greater increases in mindfulness-induced self-transcendence, which mediated the effect of MORE on increased feelings of universal love. In turn, increases in universal love significantly predicted decreased opioid craving and lower odds opioid misuse through 1- and 9-month follow-ups, respectively. Findings suggest mindfulness-induced self-transcendence may promote feelings of universal love, with possible downstream benefits on reducing addictive behavior.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
HumansAnalgesics, OpioidLoveMindfulnessOpioid-Related DisordersEmotionsChronic Pain
Study Links
Quality Scores
SafetyNot Assessed
Efficacy85/10
Quality90/10
Citation Metrics
Total Citations1
Citations/Year1.0
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.05
Weight Score2.80
Normalized Score0.72
Related Supplements
Mindfulness-induced self-transcendence promotes universal lo... | Panacea Index