Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention

Mindfulness and meditation-based interventions have become increasing popular in mental health. Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention is a recent adaptation of CBT-based relapse prevention (discussed above) that incorporates mindfulness-based meditation techniques. The mindfulness-based components are primarily drawn from Buddhism and designed to increase present-moment awareness of cognitive and emotional experiences, including exposure to them. The addition of mindfulness skills is proposed to help prevent relapse by increasing awareness of relapse triggers and tolerance for difficult affective states like craving or stress. 

There is limited and mostly low-quality evidence that does not support the use of mindfulness-based relapse prevention for treating alcohol dependence. The only published randomised controlled trial found the addition of mindfulness-based relapse prevention to usual care provided no benefit. Reviews of mindfulness-based relapse prevention for substance use disorder more broadly have also found no evidence of benefit compared to controls (mostly treatment as usual). More high-quality studies are required to demonstrate its efficacy before it can be recommended as a treatment for alcohol dependence.