Sustainable Development Goals
Abstract/Objectives
Literature has indicated that mindfulness-based relapse prevention (MBRP) is an effective way to reduce the likelihood of relapse. It (MBRP) integrates mindfulness-based practice with relapse prevention model to help drug abusers to build up a balanced lifestyle. However, there were few studies examining the effectiveness of MBRP in Taiwan. The goals in the first year are to examine the efficacy of MBRP at baseline, post-session and three-month follow-up comparing with family therapy and treatment-as-usual. All participants are recruited from psychiatric clinics, and will be randomly assigned into three groups, including MBRP, family therapy and treatment-as-usual. At baseline, post-session, and 3-month follow-up, the participants will be assessed by severity of addiction, depression, anxiety and therapeutic alliance and adherence. Descriptive analysis, Survival analysis and Generalized Estimating Equation will be applied to examine the effectiveness of MBRP, family therapy and treatment-as-usual. Descriptive analysis, Survival analysis and Generalized Estimating Equation will be applied to examine the effectiveness of MBRP, family therapy and treatment-as- usual. The effectiveness of MBRP and family therapy are expected to be confirmed and last to the 12th month after session. The result of this project could be utilized to help drug abusers in hospital or drug abuse treatment center to reduce the likelihood of relapse.
Results/Contributions

Objective: Literatures indicated mindfulness-based relapse prevention (MBRP) is effective to reduce the likelihood of relapse. MBRP integrated mindfulness-based practice into relapse prevention model to help for drug abusers build up a balanced lifestyle. However, a few Taiwanese studies have examined the effectiveness of MBRP. Therefore, this study examined the efficacy of MBRP at baseline, post-session and three-month follow-up comparing with treat-as-usual (TAU). 

Methods: This study used a 3 (baseline, post-session and three-month follow-up) × 2 (MBRP vs. TAU) mixed design. All of participants (n=49) were recruited from psychiatric clinics or drug abuse treatment center and were randomly assigned to either MBRP (n=24) or TAU (n=25). At pre-, post-session and three-month follow-up assessment points, participants completed The Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS), The Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), The Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and The Drug Use Identification Disorders Test-Extended (DUDIT-E). Data analysis was performed using repeated measures ANOVA examined changes between and within subjects, with the significant level set at 0.05.

Results: No between-group differences were found on mindfulness, addiction severity, depression or anxiety at bassline. At post-session and three-month follow-up, the analyses found that A time × group effect for depression and anxiety. Differences scores among MBRP participants showed a downward trend over time on BAI and an upward trend over time on BDI-II. After treatment, both groups achieved significantly lower on addiction severity than baseline (F= 3.40, p < 0.05).

Conclusions: The present study about randomized trial supported that MBRP effectively reduces addiction severity. Additionally, it also maintains the effect for longer after three months. Moreover, participants of MBRP has a tendency to significantly reduce anxiety compared with TAU. Although the small sample size is a limitation, the results suggest that MBRP may be an efficacious treatment for illicit drug abusers.

Keywords
Mindfulness-based relapse preventionaddictionfamily therapy
Contact Information
李昆樺
kunhualee@mx.nthu.edu.tw