The broad, long-term objective of the proposed randomized clinical trial is to evaluate the efficacy, moderators and mechanisms of change of two cognitive-behavioral aftercare treatments for alcohol and other drug (AOD) use disorders in preventing AOD relapse compared to treatment as usual (TAU) offered in the community. The two cognitive-behavioral aftercare treatments are relapse prevention (RP) and Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention (MBRP), which integrates mindfulness meditation and RP aftercare components.
Relapse to alcohol and other drug use (AOD) following treatment continues to be a costly problem for individual, society, and the substance abuse treatment community, and thus warrants the continued development of innovative and efficacious interventions designed to prevent AOD relapse. Mindfulness based relapse prevention (MBRP; Bowen, Chawla, \& Marlatt, 2008) is one such promising intervention: it incorporates mindfulness meditation on the foundation of cognitive-behavioral relapse prevention (RP;Daley \& Marlatt, 2006). RP is an established substance abuse treatment, yet as treatment developers, we believe RP can continue to be enhanced. Based on the results of an initial pilot trial, MBRP has demonstrated both feasibility and empirical promise as an aftercare treatment for AOD disorders in further enhancing long-term behavior change and reducing risk of relapse and related consequences. In the proposed study, MBRP and RP will be compared to the treatment as usual (TAU) as delivered by the Recovery Centers of King County (RCKC), in a population of individuals who have received community-based intensive inpatient (IP) or outpatient (IOP) treatment. RCKC is a community treatment agency that provides a range of addiction treatment services and has previously supported our efforts to recruit and retain sufficient numbers of the target population. The proposed study will examine whether structured mindfulness practice results in fewer AOD use days and fewer problems related to AOD use compared to TAU over a longer-term followup than in the previous pilot study. Given the high prevalence of AOD abuse in the population and the high rates of relapse following AOD treatment, the proposed research will provide a valuable next step in evaluating the efficacy of MBRP as an aftercare treatment for AOD disorders and in understanding the mechanisms of treatment efficacy. To our knowledge, no prior substance abuse treatment studies have evaluated the effect of adding a mindfulness-based component (e.g., MBRP) to an existing empirically supported treatment (i.e., RP).
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
286
The MBRP intervention comprises 8 weekly, 2-hour sessions delivered in small group format (10-14 participants) by two therapists (Bowen, et al., 2009). In MBRP, therapists facilitate discussions and exercises and introduce the meditation practice component.Group sessions include discussions of mindfulness as a means of coping with craving and painful cognitions/sensations that precipitate relapse, role-playing exercises, meditation practice, and homework assignments.
intervention is composed of 8 weekly 2-hour sessions delivered in small group format (10-14 participants)
All participants will be enrolled in continuing care services (including attendance at AA, NA, or other self-help groups) as recommended by their treatment providers. Thus, TAU participants will have ongoing support and monitoring by their continuing care providers on a regular basis.
Recovery Centers of King County
Seattle, Washington, United States
Mean Number of Alcohol and Drug Use Days Out of Past 30
Self reported use of alcohol and or illicit substances over the previous 30 days
Time frame: 30 days previous, assessed at 12-month follow-up
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