Abstract: Randomized Clinical Trial of a Mindfulness-Based Intervention for Treatment Retention and Relapse Prevention Among Women in Residential SUD Treatment (Society for Social Work and Research 21st Annual Conference - Ensure Healthy Development for all Youth)

Schedule:

Sunday, January 15, 2017: 9:00 AM

Preservation Hall Studio 3 (New Orleans Marriott)

* noted as presenting author

Hortensia Amaro, PhD, Associate Vice Provost for Community Research Initiatives and Dean's Professor of Social Work and Preventive Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA

John Monterosso, PhD, Associate Professor, University of South Carolina, Los Angeles, CA

David Black, PhD, Assistant Professor of Preventive Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA

Background and purpose: Studies of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs), which offer a systematic set of secular practices that supply self-sustainable coping resources, have shown improvements in psychological stress and substance use. Questions remain regarding MBI efficacy among women from diverse backgrounds including those in early residential treatment. Aims are to determine (a) efficacy of an MBI on treatment retention relapse and (b) intervention-related mechanisms of change as well as the neural substrates. We present initial findings noting the effect of baseline psychological stress and coping-related factors and brain morphology and functional network connectivity at treatment entry on treatment retention.

Methods: Data from 90 women in SUD residential treatment randomized into an MB group intervention and control condition (each 6 weeks, twice per week, 80 minutes each) were obtained at baseline, post-intervention completion and 8 months thereafter. 15 from each study condition also underwent fMRI studies at baseline and post-intervention. Measures included substance use (via time follow-back interview and urine), self-reported perceived stress, distress, distress tolerance, coping skills, craving and negative affect. ANOVA and logistic regression were used to identify baseline predictors of treatment drop out in first two months, and correlational analysis are used to describe associations between psychological stress and coping factors with changes in brain imaging indices.

Results: Upon submission, we have not yet completed data analyses. Analyses will focus on identifying (a) baseline predictors (self-reported stress, psychological distress, distress tolerance, coping skills, craving and negative affect) of early treatment drop out (within first 2 months of treatment); (b) preliminary findings on efficacy of the intervention compared to attention control group; and (c) preliminary findings on correlations between brain study findings and self-reported assessments noted above.

Conclusions and implications: Findings are discussed in terms of increasing accessibility and effectiveness of substance abuse programming and planning for early stages of treatment and recovery.