Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention for Methadone Maintenance: A Feasibility Trial

Objectives: As rates of opiate misuse rise in the United States, so do significant associated health and financial consequences to afflicted individuals, their families, and society at large. Methadone maintenance therapy (MMT) is one evidence-based approach to treating opiate addiction, yet supplemental psychosocial treatment to support this approach is lacking. Mindfulness-based relapse prevention (MBRP) has shown to be efficacious in various substance use populations, but has yet to be assessed with MMT clients. Design: The current mixed methods study was designed to inform protocol adaptation for MMT clients and to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of MBRP for this population. Subjects: The sample consisted of adults (N=15) recruited from a methadone clinic to participate in a 6-week MBRP course. Outcome measures: Data from focus groups and course satisfaction surveys supported feasibility and acceptability of the intervention. Self-report outcome measures included depression, anxiety, craving, symptoms of post-traumatic stress, and experiential avoidance, and were assessed at baseline and postcourse. Results: Mean scores on all primary outcomes changed in the expected direction at postcourse, and baseline to postcourse changes in depression, craving, and trauma symptoms reached statistical significance. Conclusions: Results from this initial pilot trial support feasibility and acceptability, and provide preliminary data on outcomes for future trials of mindfulness-based approaches within the MMT community.