Effects of Mindfulness-Based Interventions on Gray Matter Volume in Patients with Opioid Dependence.

Introduction: Recently, several mindfulness-based programs showed promising clinical effects in the treatment of psychiatric disorders including substance use disorders. However, very little is known about the effects of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) on brain structure in such patients.

Methods: This study aimed to detect changes in gray matter volume (GMV) in opioid-dependent patients receiving MBI during their first month of treatment.

Mindfulness-based therapy modulates default-mode network connectivity in patients with opioid dependence.

Recently, mindfulness-based programs have shown promising clinical effects in the treatment of substance-use disorders (SUD). While several studies linked mindfulness to decreased default mode network (DMN) connectivity in meditators, only a few studies investigated its effects in patients with SUD. This study aimed to detect changes in DMN connectivity in opiate dependent patients receiving mindfulness based therapy (MBT) during their first month of treatment.

Mindfulness-based interventions modulate structural network strength in patients with opioid dependence.

Mindfulness-based interventions (MBI) are increasingly used in the treatment of patients with mental disorders, in particular in individuals presenting with affective disorders or in patients exhibiting abnormal levels of impulsive behavior. MBI have been also offered to patients with substance use disorders, where such treatment options may yield considerable clinical effects. Neural effects associated with MBI have been increasingly acknowledged, but is unknown whether MBI exert specific effects on brain structure in patients with substance use disorders.