Adam D. Wilson

When Traits Match States: Examining the Associations Between Self-Report Trait and State Mindfulness Following a State Mindfulness Induction

Previous research has found inconsistent relationships between trait mindfulness and state mindfulness. To extend previous research, we sought to examine the unique associations between self-report trait mindfulness and state mindfulness by levels of meditation experience (meditation-naïve vs. meditation-experienced) and by mindfulness induction (experimentally induced mindful state vs. control group). We recruited 299 college students (93 with previous mindfulness meditation experience) to participate in an experiment that involved the assessment of five facets of trait mindfulness (among other constructs), followed by a mindfulness induction (vs. control), and followed by the assessment of state mindfulness of body and mind. Correlational analyses revealed limited associations between trait mindfulness facets and facets of state mindfulness, and demonstrated that a brief mindfulness exercise focused on bodily sensations and the breath elicited higher state mindfulness of body but not state mindfulness of mind. We found significant interactions such that individuals with previous meditation experience and higher scores on the observing facet of trait mindfulness had the highest levels of state mindfulness of body and mind. Among individuals with meditation experience, the strengths of the associations between observing trait mindfulness and the state mindfulness facets increased with frequency of meditation practice. Some other interactions ran counter to expectations. Overall, the relatively weak associations between trait and state mindfulness demonstrate the need to improve our operationalizations of mindfulness, advance our understanding of how to best cultivate mindfulness, and reappraise the ways in which mindfulness can manifest as a state and as a trait.

Abstinence and low risk drinking during treatment: Association with psychosocial functioning, alcohol use, and alcohol problems 3 years following treatment.

Abstinence from alcohol is often considered a critical element of recovery from alcohol use disorder. Yet, low risk drinking may be more desirable for some patients. There is mixed literature on whether low risk drinking is achievable and stable. Low risk drinking outcomes during treatment and outcomes 3 years after treatment were examined using data from the outpatient arm in Project MATCH (n = 877). Drinking outcomes were defined by repeated measures latent class analysis of weekly abstinence, low risk drinking days (<4/5 drinks for women/men), and heavy drinking days (≥4/5 drinks for women/men) during 12 weeks of treatment. Functioning outcome measures included psychosocial functioning, alcohol use, and alcohol-related consequences. Mixture modeling was used to examine the association between drinking classes and functioning outcomes. We identified 7 classes based on drinking during treatment: persistent heavy drinking, abstinence to heavy drinking, abstinence and heavy drinking, heavy drinking to mostly abstinent, low risk and heavy drinking, abstinence and low risk drinking, and abstinence. As compared with heavier drinkers, individuals who achieved mostly abstinence or low risk drinking, even with some heavy drinking episodes during treatment, had significant improvements in alcohol use, alcohol-related consequences, and psychosocial functioning 3 years after treatment. Those who were mostly abstinent or engaged in low risk drinking during treatment did not differ on any outcomes at 3 years after treatment. Findings indicate that low risk drinking is achievable for some individuals during treatment and that improvement in functioning among low risk drinkers can be observed at 3 years after treatment.

A consumer’s eye view of family-involved alcohol treatment

ABSTRACT Family involvement leads to better outcomes of alcohol treatment, but empirically-supported family treatments have not been adopted widely. The current study obtained consumer perspectives to inform development of a family treatment designed to be adopted by community programs. Four focus groups (N=25; 6 patients, 4 family members, 15 clinicians) were analyzed based on a coding system developed using Grounded Theory. Patient alcohol use negatively impacted family interactions, relationships, and resources. Family involvement barriers included: pragmatic challenges, institutional barriers, and family/patient ambivalence. Strategies to increase family involvement included: enhancing positive interactions, maintaining optimism about family involvement, and clinicians recommending family involvement.

Mindfulness-based interventions for addictive behaviors: Implementation issues on the road ahead.

Over the past 35 years, mindfulness meditation practices have increasingly been integrated into Western medical settings. Research into the benefits of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) continues to expand, such that there are currently more than a dozen different protocolled MBIs for patients suffering from a variety of physical and psychological disorders. In the last decade, a number of MBIs specifically designed to treat addictive behaviors have been developed and tested. This review first provides a brief overview of the current state of the science with respect to the efficacy of MBIs for addictive behaviors, and some of the proposed mechanisms underlying the efficacy of MBIs. Second, the review highlights unresolved implementation issues and provides suggestions for how future research can address the implementation challenges to advance the delivery of MBIs. Specifically, this review focuses on the lack of clear empirical guidelines in the following areas: (a) effective training for MBI treatment providers; (b) adaptations of the traditional 2-hr closed-cohort group format; (c) delivery of MBIs in 1-on-1 treatment contexts; (d) delivery of MBIs at different points in the change process; (e) delivery of MBIs via technology-based platforms; and (f) facilitation of precision medicine in the delivery of MBIs. Specific research directions are suggested with an eye toward a meaningful increase in access to MBIs for front-line clinicians and clients.