Do mindfulness-based interventions change brain function in people with substance dependence? A systematic review of the fMRI evidence

Valentina Lorenzetti; Alexandra Gaillard; Emillie Beyer; Magdalena Kowalczyk; Sunjeev K Kamboj; Victoria Manning; John Gleeson

doi:10.1186/s12888-023-04789-7

Do mindfulness-based interventions change brain function in people with substance dependence? A systematic review of the fMRI evidence

BMC Psychiatry. 2023 Jun 7;23(1):407. doi: 10.1186/s12888-023-04789-7.

Authors

Valentina Lorenzetti¹, Alexandra Gaillard^{2

3}, Emillie Beyer², Magdalena Kowalczyk², Sunjeev K Kamboj⁴, Victoria Manning^{5

6}, John Gleeson⁷

Affiliations

¹ Neuroscience of Addiction and Mental Health Program, Healthy Brain and Mind Research Centre, School of Behavioural and Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Australian Catholic University, Level 5 Daniel Mannix Building, 115 Victoria Parade, Fitzroy, VIC, 3065, Australia. valentina.lorenzetti@acu.edu.au.
² Neuroscience of Addiction and Mental Health Program, Healthy Brain and Mind Research Centre, School of Behavioural and Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Australian Catholic University, Level 5 Daniel Mannix Building, 115 Victoria Parade, Fitzroy, VIC, 3065, Australia.
³ Centre for Mental Health, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, Australia.
⁴ Research Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, London, UK.
⁵ Monash Addiction Research Centre, Eastern Health Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
⁶ Turning Point, Eastern Health, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
⁷ Digital Innovations in Mental Health and Well-being Program, Healthy Brain and Mind Research Centre, School of Behavioural and Health Sciences, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.

Abstract

Background: Substance use disorders (SUDs) affect ~ 35 million people globally and are associated with strong cravings, stress, and brain alterations. Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) can mitigate the adverse psychosocial outcomes of SUDs, but the underlying neurobiology is unclear. Emerging findings were systematically synthesised from fMRI studies about MBI-associated changes in brain function in SUDs and their associations with mindfulness, drug quantity, and craving.

Methods: PsycINFO, Medline, CINAHL, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched. Seven studies met inclusion criteria.

Results: Group by time effects indicated that MBIs in SUDs (6 tobacco and 1 opioid) were associated with changes in the function of brain pathways implicated in mindfulness and addiction (e.g., anterior cingulate cortex and striatum), which correlated with greater mindfulness, lower craving and drug quantity.

Conclusions: The evidence for fMRI-related changes with MBI in SUD is currently limited. More fMRI studies are required to identify how MBIs mitigate and facilitate recovery from aberrant brain functioning in SUDs.

Keywords: Addiction; Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI); Mindfulness; Mindfulness-based intervention (MBI); Review; Substance use disorder (SUD).

Publication types

Systematic Review
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Behavior, Addictive*
Brain / diagnostic imaging
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Mindfulness*
Substance-Related Disorders* / diagnostic imaging
Substance-Related Disorders* / therapy