Mindfulness and Modification Therapy for Behavioral Dysregulation: A Comparison Trial Focused on Substance Use and Aggression.
OBJECTIVE
Disorders of behavioral dysregulation often involve more than one dsyregulated behavior (e.g., drug abuse and aggression, alcohol abuse and gambling). The high co-occurrence suggests the need of a transdiagnostic treatment that can be customized to target multiple specific behaviors.


METHODS
The current pilot study compared a 20-week, individual transdiagnostic therapy (mindfulness and modification therapy [MMT]) versus treatment as usual (TAU) in targeting alcohol problems, drug use, physical aggression, and verbal aggression in self-referred women. Assessments were administered at baseline, post-intervention, and 2-month follow-up.


RESULTS
Wilcoxon signed-ranked tests and multilevel modeling showed that MMT (n = 13) displayed (a) significant and large decreases in alcohol/drug use, physical aggression, and verbal aggression; (b) significantly greater decreases in alcohol/drug use and physical aggression than did TAU (n = 8); and (c) minimal-to-no deterioration of effects at follow-up. Both conditions showed significant decreases in verbal aggression, with no statistically significant difference between conditions. MMT also displayed greater improvements in mindfulness.


CONCLUSIONS
Preliminary findings support the feasibility and efficacy of MMT in decreasing multiple dysregulated behaviors.
John Jay College/City University of New York.|Yale School of Medicine.
Peggilee
P
Wupperman
Weill Cornell Medical College-New York Presbyterian Hospital.
Mia Gintoft
MG
Cohen
Ichan School of Medicine at Mt Sinai.
Deborah L
DL
Haller
Peter Flom Consulting.
Peter
P
Flom
Columbia University Teachers College.
Lisa C
LC
Litt
Yale School of Medicine.
Bruce J
BJ
Rounsaville
D000328:Adult; D000374:Aggression; D019973:Alcohol-Related Disorders / Q000628:therapy; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D064866:Mindfulness / Q000379:methods*; D000066553:Problem Behavior; D000068356:Self-Control; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
aggression; alcohol; behavior; drug; dysregulation; impulsive; intervention; mindfulness; therapy; transdiagnostic