The effect of mindfulness training on drug craving is moderated by level of negative affect

Mindfulness-based treatments decrease risk of relapse for substance use disorders, and drug craving is a possible mechanism of action (Marlatt, Witkiewitz, & Dillworth, 2004). Craving is a stronger relapse predictor among those with negative affect problems (anxiety and/or depressive disorders) (Litt, Cooney, & Morse, 2000), and mindfulness-based treatments decrease negative affect (Arch & Craske, 2006; Speca, Carlson, & Goodey, 2000) and craving (Coffey, Stasiewicz, Huges, & Brimo, 2006). In this study, 75 patients presenting to an inpatient drug and alcohol treatment center were randomly assigned to treatment or waitlist groups over a period of 14 weeks. A 5-day mindfulness-based meditation training was provided in the week following recruitment to the study (the waitlist group received training 1 week later). It was hypothesized that the mindfulness training would reduce craving, and it was also hypothesized that negative affect would moderate the effect of mindfulness training on craving. The results show that mindfulness training did reduce craving significantly for the treatment group, but negative affect was not a significant moderator of this relationship. The findings are consistent with the view that craving is a mechanism of change for mindfulness-based interventions designed for substance use disorders (SUDs).