The goal of this clinical trial is to examine the usefulness of Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement combined with Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KetaMORE) for individuals with opioid use disorder who are receiving medication treatment. The main question it aims to answer is whether individuals with opioid use disorder who receive Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement in combination with Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy will demonstrate greater reductions in opioid use and craving than individuals who receive Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy with a non-mindfulness support group. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement combined with Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy or Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy combined with a support group control condition. Researchers will compare these groups on days of opioid use, time to first opioid use lapse, craving, and mood, assessed using ecological momentary assessments and standardized measures collected during treatment and follow-up.
This study is a Phase II, two-arm, parallel randomized controlled trial designed to evaluate the efficacy of Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement combined with Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KetaMORE) compared to Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy paired with a support group control condition for individuals with opioid use disorder receiving medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD), including buprenorphine. Participants will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to one of two conditions: (1) Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy combined with Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement, or (2) Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy combined with a support group providing nonspecific therapeutic support without mindfulness training. Both groups will receive identical ketamine dosing and psychotherapy components; the conditions will differ only in the adjunctive behavioral intervention. Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement is a manualized, evidence-based intervention integrating mindfulness training, cognitive reappraisal, and savoring techniques to reduce craving, negative affect, and maladaptive reward processing associated with substance use. The support group control condition is designed to match therapist contact and group support while excluding mindfulness-based content. Participants will complete assessments at baseline, during treatment, post-treatment, and follow-up. Primary outcomes will include number of days of opioid use and time to first opioid use lapse. Secondary outcomes will include opioid craving and mood symptoms. Ecological momentary assessments will be used to capture daily fluctuations in substance use, craving, and affect throughout the study period.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
88
Ketamine will be administered as part of ketamine-assisted psychotherapy under medical supervision according to the study protocol. Ketamine dosing and administration procedures will be identical across study arms.
Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement is a manualized, evidence-based intervention integrating mindfulness practices, cognitive reappraisal, and savoring exercises to reduce craving, improve emotional regulation, and support recovery from opioid use disorder. MORE sessions are delivered in a group format and coordinated with ketamine-assisted psychotherapy sessions.
The support group intervention consists of therapist-led group sessions focused on emotional support and discussion of recovery-related experiences. This condition is designed to match the MORE intervention in duration and therapist contact while excluding mindfulness-based or structured skills training.
University of California, San Diego
La Jolla, California, United States
University Of Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
Abstinence
Abstinence as measured by timeline followback and triangulated by drug screen.
Time frame: From day 15 through 84.
MOUD discontinuation
Discontinuation of medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD), defined as cessation of prescribed MOUD during the study period using the Timeline Follow-back and biochemically verified use via drug screens.
Time frame: From day 15 to 84.
Opioid Craving (Ecological Momentary Assessments)
Opioid craving assessed using ecological momentary assessment (EMA) on a 0-10 numeric rating scale (0=no craving, 10 extreme craving).
Time frame: From baseline through week 12.
Opioid Craving (Desires for Drug Questionnaire)
Opioid craving measured using the Desires for Drug Questionnaire (DDQ), a validated self-report measure of desire and urge to use opioids (0= Strongly Disagree, 6= Strongly Agree)
Time frame: From baseline to week 12.
Quality of life (WHO-5)
Quality of life assessed using the World Health Organization Five Well-Being Index (WHO-5), a brief measure of subjective psychological well-being. (0= At no time, 5= All of the time)
Time frame: From baseline to week 12.
Depressive Symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire-9)
Depressive symptom severity assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). (0= Not at all, 3= Nearly every day)
Time frame: From baseline to week 12.
Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms (PTSD Checklist for DSM-5)
Post-traumatic stress symptom severity assessed using the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5). (0 = Not at all, 4= Extremely )
Time frame: From baseline to week 12.
Anhedonia (Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale)
Anhedonia assessed using the Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale (SHAPS), a validated measure of reduced capacity to experience pleasure. (1=Strongly Disagree, 4= Strongly Agree)
Time frame: From baseline to week 12.
Psychological Distress (Depression Anxiety Stress Scales)
Psychological distress assessed using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS). (0= Did not apply to me at all, 3= Applied to me very much or most of the time)
Time frame: From baseline to week 12.
Positive and Negative Affect (Positive and Negative Affect Schedule)
Positive and negative affect assessed using the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS). (1= Very slightly or not at all, 5= Extremely)
Time frame: From baseline to week 12.
Pain (PEG Scale)
Pain severity and pain-related interference assessed using the PEG scale. (0= no pain or interference, 10= Worst imaginable pain or interference)
Time frame: Baseline to week 12.
Momentary affective state
Momentary affective state measured by EMA on 0-10 numeric rating scale (0=low affect, 10=high affect).
Time frame: Baseline through week 12.
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