Cited by 141Mindfulness and Compassion InterventionsSubstance Abuse Treatment and OutcomesAnxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes

Mindfulness-based treatments for co-occurring depression and substance use disorders: what can we learn from the brain?

Open access
Brewer, Judson A., Bowen, Sarah, Smith, Joseph T., Marlatt, G. Alan, Potenza, Marc N.·2010·Addiction

Abstract

Both depression and substance use disorders represent major global public health concerns and are often co-occurring. Although there are ongoing discoveries regarding the pathophysiology and treatment of each condition, common mechanisms and effective treatments for co-occurring depression and substance abuse remain elusive. Mindfulness training has been shown recently to benefit both depression and substance use disorders, suggesting that this approach may target common behavioral and neurobiological processes. However, it remains unclear whether these pathways constitute specific shared neurobiological mechanisms or more extensive components universal to the broader human experience of psychological distress or suffering.We offer a theoretical, clinical and neurobiological perspective of the overlaps between these disorders, highlight common neural pathways that play a role in depression and substance use disorders and discuss how these commonalities may frame our conceptualization and treatment of co-occurring disorders. Finally, we discuss how advances in our understanding of potential mechanisms of mindfulness training may offer not only unique effects on depression and substance use, but also offer promise for treatment of co-occurring disorders.

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Crossref · 10.1111/j.1360-0443.2009.02890.x

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  • Mindfulness-based interventions bring habitual behaviours into consciousness by teaching smokers to focus attention on the present moment.

    “Further, by teaching smokers to focus their attention on what is happening in the moment, mindfulness‐based interventions bring habitual behaviours into consciousness.”

    From Mindfulness for smoking cessation (2022) · cites this paper as Brewer 2010

    The Attention section says mindfulness training teaches present-moment attention and hypothesizes that this helps people notice overlearned behavioral patterns as they arise. That supports the proposed mechanism, but the paper does not establish it specifically in smokers or state it as a demonstrated effect. (LLM, conf=0.86)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • This enables people to understand associative learning and focus on affect and craving as central components of positive and negative reinforcement loops.

    “This enables people to understand the associative learning process, and focus on affect and craving as central components of positive and negative reinforcement loops (Brewer 2010).”

    From Mindfulness for smoking cessation (2022) · cites this paper as Brewer 2010

    In “Mechanism of action in mindfulness training—Attention” (page not supplied), the paper says mindfulness may help people notice overlearned behavioral patterns and associations between mood and depressive thoughts. Its “Acceptance” section discusses negative affect and urges to use substances. The paper does not describe affect and craving as central components of positive and negative reinforcement loops, so that specific framing is unsupported. (LLM, conf=0.83)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • ME may contribute to improve problematic smartphone users' ability to tolerate discomfort associated with craving.

    “Moreover, ME may contribute to improve problematic smartphone users ' ability to tolerate discomfort associated with craving [14,46].”

    From Comparative effectiveness of mind-body exercise versus cognitive behavioral therapy for college students with problematic smartphone use: A randomized controlled trial (2020) · cites this paper as [46]

    In the ‘Acceptance’ section, the paper reports that people with substance use disorders describe greater ability to tolerate and manage urges when using a mindfulness approach. It does not study problematic smartphone users, so applying that finding to their craving-related discomfort is an extrapolation. (LLM, conf=0.85)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • A positive association between problematic use level and mental health (loneliness, anxiety, stress) has been established.

    “As the positive association between problematic use level and mental health (i.e., loneliness, anxiety and stress) has been established [46,47].”

    From Comparative effectiveness of mind-body exercise versus cognitive behavioral therapy for college students with problematic smartphone use: A randomized controlled trial (2020) · cites this paper as [46]

    The Neurobiological perspectives section (page unavailable) reports established links among stress, depression and substance use. The Acceptance section also reports a correlation between negative affect and longer duration of use. Neither passage establishes a positive association between problematic-use level and each of loneliness, anxiety and stress; loneliness is not addressed. (LLM, conf=0.84)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Recent pilot studies have shown that mindfulness may be safe in people with psychosis.

    “However, recent pilot studies have shown that mindfulness may be safe. In this population, it is recommended that practices are shorter, guidance is more frequent, and explicit reference is made to psychotic phenomena.23”

    From Mindfulness in psychiatry - Where are we now? (2016) · cites this paper as [23]

    The Clinical perspectives section discusses mindfulness studies in depression and substance use disorders, but does not address safety in people with psychosis. Searches for psychosis, schizophrenia, safety, and the recommended practice modifications found no relevant passage in our copy; page numbers were unavailable. (LLM, conf=0.76)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

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Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. [8]Marlatt GA Donovan DM 2005 Relapse prevention: Maintenance strategies in the treatment of addictive behaviors 2 xiv 416 New York, NY, US Guilford Press

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Authors
Brewer, J. A., Bowen, S., Smith, J. T., Marlatt, G. A., & Potenza, M. N.
Affiliations
  • Yale University (US)
  • University of Washington (US)
Corresponding author
Brewer, Judson A.
Venue
Addiction
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2010-09-15
Volume
105
Issue
10
Pages
1698-1706
ISSN
  • 0965-2140 (ISSN-L)
  • 1360-0443
OpenAlex
W2167010758
Cited by
141
References
177
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 10 · 2020: 11 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 12 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 9 · 2015: 11 · 2014: 15 · 2013: 14 · 2012: 10
FWCI
13.32
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Addiction (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (T32 AA 07455-24, RL1AA017539, T32AA007455)
  • National Institute of Mental Health (T32MH019961, R25MH071584)
  • National Institute on Drug Abuse (K24DA017899, P50DA009241, K12 DA00167, R01DA020908, P50-DA-0-9241, K12DA000167, T32DA007238)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
Keywords
mindfulness-based interventions, dual diagnosis, neurobiological mechanisms, psychological distress, substance use disorders, depression
MeSH terms
Affect, Attention, Brain, Major Depressive Disorder, Humans, Neural Pathways, Stress, Psychological, Thinking, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Diagnosis, Dual (Psychiatry), Meditation, Mind-Body Relations, Metaphysical, Substance-Related Disorders, Secondary Prevention

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