A Randomized Controlled Trial of a Mindfulness and Acceptance Group Therapy for Residential Substance Use Patients
Open accessAbstract
BACKGROUND: Substance use disorders are understood as a chronically relapsing condition that is difficult to treat. However, in recent years there have been promising developments in the treatment of substance use disorders, specifically with interventions based on mindfulness and acceptance and commitment therapy. Little research has examined whether these types of interventions may positively impact residential substance use treatment outcomes. OBJECTIVES: Thus, in the current study we developed and examined, in a randomized controlled trial, a 4-week, eight-session, adjunctive mindfulness and acceptance group therapy for patients in residential substance use treatment. Our primary outcomes were substance use cravings, psychological flexibility, and dispositional mindfulness at treatment discharge. METHODS: Patients (N = 117) from a private residential substance use facility were randomized to receive the adjunctive mindfulness and acceptance group or treatment-as-usual. Patients were assessed at treatment intake and at discharge from a 28-30-day residential program. RESULTS: Although treatment groups did not statistically differ at discharge on any primary outcome, small effect sizes favored the mindfulness and acceptance group on cravings and psychological flexibility. Conclusions/Importance: Continued research is needed to determine whether the addition of mindfulness and acceptance-based interventions improve outcomes long term following residential substance use treatment.
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ACT intervention decreases craving behaviour of drug abusers as well as reuse of substance, relieves pain in patients with chronic pain comorbid with opioid addiction and suppresses craving for opioids.
“ACT intervention decreases the craving behaviour of drug abusers47 as well as reuse of substance,48 relieves pain in patients with chronic pain comorbid with opioid addiction and suppresses craving for opioids.49”
From Biological mechanism study of meditation and its application in mental disorders (2020) · cites this paper as [47]
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Self-Efficacy as a Potential Mechanism of Behavior Change in Mindfulness-Based Relapse PreventionPreprint
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- Authors
- Shorey, R. C., Elmquist, J., Gawrysiak, M. J., Strauss, C., Haynes, E., Anderson, S., & Stuart, G. L.
- Affiliations
- Ohio University (US)
- University of Tennessee at Knoxville (US)
- Delaware State University (US)
- Cornerstone of Recovery, Louisville, Tennessee, USA
- Corresponding author
- Shorey, Ryan C.
- Venue
- Substance Use & Misuse
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2017-04-21
- Volume
- 52
- Issue
- 11
- Pages
- 1400-1410
- ISSN
- 1082-6084 (ISSN-L)
- 1532-2491
- PMC
- PMC6080615
- OpenAlex
- W2606997931
- Cited by
- 37
- References
- 38
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 1
- FWCI
- 4.07
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- europepmc.org
- Locations
- Substance Use & Misuse (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (F31AA020131, K24AA019707)
- National Institute of General Medical Sciences (P20GM103653)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Opioid Use Disorder Treatment
- Keywords
- mindfulness-based interventions, acceptance and commitment therapy, group therapy, residential addiction treatment, substance use disorders, psychological flexibility, trait mindfulness, adjunctive psychotherapy
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Psychotherapy, Group, Residential Treatment, Treatment Outcome, Substance-Related Disorders, Mindfulness, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
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