A mindfulness trial keeps medication at the centre of care
A brain-imaging study examines a structured therapy alongside opioid treatment, with small analysis groups and qualified findings.
A randomised trial published in JAMA Psychiatry on 28 October examined Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement alongside medication for opioid use disorder. The eight-week programme combines mindfulness, reinterpreting drug-related cues and attending to everyday positive experiences. Its comparison group received supportive therapy matched for session length and group format.
The studied programme is more than a general class
Researchers reported changes in prefrontal brain responses associated with lower cue-induced craving, and longer abstinence duration at follow-up around four months after treatment. Different analyses used different subsets: 59 participants for the cue task, 37 for movie viewing and 38 for follow-up. Most participants in the cue-task analysis were men.
These are promising findings from a specific clinical setting, with limited numbers and follow-up. They do not show that an ordinary mindfulness or yoga class produces the same effects. The programme was an addition to methadone or buprenorphine, not a replacement. Its relevance to teaching begins with respecting that boundary.
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