The effect of mindfulness-based relapse prevention on substance craving compared to twelve-step therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy: a Randomized Clinical Trial

the effect of mindfulness-based relapse prevention on craving

Abstract

Background: Addictive disorders represent a severe health issue and a high economic burden on society. About 31 million people suffer from substance use disorders (SUDs) worldwide. Substance craving is an integral component of dependence syndromes and one of the main causes of relapse. In spite of the presence of multiple effective psychological therapies for managing SUDs, there is an increasing interest in alternative interventions like mindfulness-based relapse prevention (MBRP) that might yield better outcomes in treating SUDs. This study aimed to clarify if mindfulness-based relapse prevention, cognitive behavioral therapy, and twelve-step therapy target substance carving differently.

Methods: To conduct this prospective study, considering the drop-out rate, the list of 60 opioid-dependent men (aged 18-50 years) applying for treatment was prepared based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Then, three groups of 20 were randomly selected and placed in three intervention groups, group one received cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), group two received MBRP, and group three received twelve-step therapy. All participants completed the measurement scales immediately after detoxification and after the end of therapeutic sessions.

Results: Craving decreased among MBRP participants at a greater level compared to CBT and 12-step through obsessive-compulsive drug use scale (OCDUS) (P=0.019^*) and through desire for drug questionnaire (DDQ) (P=0.005^*). Although there was a significant difference between MBRP and CBT, no significant difference between MBRP and 12-step was found.

Conclusions: Mindfulness-based relapse prevention decreased opioid craving at a greater but non-significant level when compared to 12-step rehabilitation therapy and significantly decreased it when compared to cognitive behavioral therapy.