Pilot trial of effectiveness of mindfulness meditation for substance abuse patients

Abstract

AbstractAims, setting and intervention: This pilot study compared outcomes of 18 randomized substance‐abuse recovery house patients who received 8 weeks of mindfulness meditation plus standard treatment with that of 13 patients receiving just standard treatment.Design, measurement and findings: Addiction Severity Index composite scores indicated relatively greater improvement in medical problems over a 5‐month follow‐up period (baseline, 8 weeks and 5 months) for the meditation group, but no other group differences on this multi‐dimensional measure of various life problems. The groups did not differ in urine toxicology results during the study or at 8 weeks and 5 months. No differential group change was found on measures of psychological health.Conclusion: This initial small pilot evaluation yielded relatively little indication that meditation enhanced treatment outcomes for the substance abuse patients studied.KeywordsMindfulness meditationtreatment responsesubstance abuse patients