The feasibility of mindfulness‐based relapse prevention for adults with substance use disorders (illicit drugs) in a Chinese population: A pilot randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Mindfulness-based relapse prevention (MBRP) has been shown to be beneficial to individuals with substance use disorder (SUD) in the West. The current pilot study aimed at testing the feasibility of MBRP in a Chinese population. DESIGN: This pilot study adopted a design of randomized controlled trial comparing MBRP with treatment-as-usual group (TAU). SETTING: Participants were recruited from residential detox centers, community addiction counseling centers and substance abuse clinics specialized addiction treatment clinics in Hong Kong. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 81 adults (85.2% male) with SUD (illicit drugs only) were recruited. INTERVENTIONS: The intervention group participants (n = 41) attended a 1-hour orientation session followed by 2-hour weekly MBRP sessions for 8 weeks, delivered by a qualified MBRP teacher. The TAU group participants (n = 40) continued their service received from their referral agency. (After completion of all study assessments they were offered the same 8-week MBRP course.) MEASUREMENTS: Feasibility was measured by attendance, course satisfaction and retention rate. Participants' change in substance use and other related outcomes were captured by self-reported drug use, urine drug tests and a list of psychometric scales at baseline, immediately after MBRP and 3- and 6-month follow-up. FINDINGS: The MBRP course satisfaction was high, and the attendance (57.4%) and retention rates (63.4%-85.4%) were comparable to previous trials. No statistically significant differences were observed between the MBRP and TAU groups for any outcomes, including craving, depression, anxiety, mindfulness and health-related quality of life; however, improvement trends were noticed in the MBRP group in self-efficacy in managing high-risk situations at post intervention, as well as in addiction severity and psychological flexibility at the 6-month follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Mindfulness-based relapse prevention was shown to be feasible for substance use disorder treatment in a Chinese population. In this small study there was only limited evidence of abstinence efficacy, and no evidence of a benefit on other secondary outcomes.