title: Between-session practice and therapeutic alliance as predictors of mindfulness after mindfulness-based relapse prevention.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Mindfulness-based treatments have demonstrated efficacy in reducing symptoms in clinical populations. Not surprisingly, research suggests increases in client mindfulness might be a mechanism of change in these treatments. However, little is known about specific factors that lead to increased mindfulness.
  
  
  METHODS
  The present study is a secondary analysis of 93 adults in outpatient treatment for substance abuse, assessing effects of between-session mindfulness practice and therapeutic alliance on levels of mindfulness after an 8-week Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention (MBRP) program.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Between-session practice over the course of the 8 weeks was predictive of mindfulness at postcourse, although not at the 2-month or 4-month follow-up assessments. Client-rated therapeutic alliance was a significant predictor at the 2-month follow-up, although not at 4 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that between-session practice and therapeutic alliance might be important factors in the initial increases in mindfulness after mindfulness-based treatments, but factors supporting longer term mindfulness might shift over time.
authors.affiliation: University of Washington, Department of Psychology, Seattle, WA 98195-1525, USA. swbowen@uw.edu
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bowen
authors.forename: Andrew S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Kurz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019122:Meditation / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D055815:Young Adult