Effectiveness of mindfulness-based relapse prevention for co-occurring substance use and depression disorders

Depression and substance use disorders are highly comorbid and have significant clinical and public health impli- cations. The current study was conducted in Iran with the aim to evaluate the effectiveness of an 8-week outpatient mindfulness- based relapse prevention (MBRP) program compared to treat- ment as usual (TAU) for substance use disorders with comorbid depression. Participants were 74 adults with substance use disor- ders randomly assigned to either MBRP (n = 37) or TAU (n = 37). Scores on the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and Penn Alcohol Craving Scale (PACS) were used as outcome measures. Assessments were ad- ministered pre-intervention, post-intervention, and at a 2-month follow-up. Effectiveness of MBRP was supported by significant- ly lower post-intervention rates of depression, anxiety, and crav- ing in those who received MBRP as compared to those in TAU. In the MBRP group, these beneficial effects were stable at fol- low-up. Results suggest that MBRP could be implemented as an effective intervention for patients with comorbid depression and substance use disorders.