Yoga with mindfulness improves sleep, anxiety, and physical function in methamphetamine addicts
Photo by Eugene Chystiakov / Unsplash
Key Takeaway
Consider yoga with mindfulness for potential improvements in sleep and anxiety in methamphetamine use disorder, but evidence is preliminary.
This randomized controlled trial enrolled 80 individuals with methamphetamine use disorder meeting DSM-5 criteria. The intervention group received a 24-week yoga program integrated with mindfulness components, consisting of 40-minute sessions three times weekly, compared to a control group with no additional intervention. Follow-up occurred over 24 weeks, with additional measurements at 4 and 12 weeks for fatigue, creatine kinase, and inflammatory markers.
Main results from the abstract showed improvements in several outcomes. Sleep quality, measured by PSQI score, reduced from 14.32 to 8.41. Anxiety levels decreased, functional movement screening total score increased from 9.24 to 12.12, and reaction time improved from 0.59 seconds to 0.48 seconds, all with significant p-values. However, results for inflammatory markers (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-10), neurotransmitters (dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine), heart rate variability, and relapse intention were not reported in the abstract.
Safety and tolerability data were not reported. Key limitations include that few studies have systematically investigated comprehensive effects on physical function, inflammatory markers, neurotransmitter balance, and relapse intention in methamphetamine addicts. The abstract-only nature limits assessment, and funding or conflicts were not reported. Practice relevance lies in exploring non-pharmacological interventions for methamphetamine use disorder, but cautious interpretation is warranted due to incomplete data.
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View Original Abstract ↓
BackgroundMethamphetamine (MA) addiction is a chronic relapsing disorder that impairs physical health, induces mental distress (e.g., anxiety), and triggers abnormal inflammatory and neurotransmitter responses, all contributing to high relapse rates. Mindfulness and yoga interventions may alleviate psychological distress and improve physical well-being in substance users; however, few studies have systematically investigated their comprehensive effects on physical function, inflammatory markers, neurotransmitter balance, and relapse intention in MA addicts, leaving a gap in non-pharmacological interventions for this population.ObjectiveThis randomized controlled trial aimed to investigate the effects of a 24-week yoga intervention integrated with mindfulness components on multiple health outcomes among individuals with methamphetamine use disorder, ncluding physical function (assessed by Functional Movement Screening [FMS], reaction time, sleep quality, subjective fatigue, and creatine kinase [CK]), anxiety, inflammatory response (tumor necrosis factor-α [TNF-α], interleukin-6 [IL-6], and interleukin-10 [IL-10]), heart rate variability (HRV), relapse-related neurotransmitters (dopamine [DA], serotonin [5-HT], and norepinephrine [NE]), and relapse intention.MethodsEighty MA addicts meeting DSM-5 criteria were randomly assigned to an experimental group (n = 41; 40-min mindfulness yoga sessions, three times weekly for 24 weeks) or a control group (n = 39; no additional intervention). Assessments were conducted at baseline and post-intervention for all outcomes, with additional measurements at 4 and 12 weeks for fatigue, CK, and inflammatory markers.ResultsFollowing the 24-week intervention, the experimental group demonstrated significant improvements in sleep quality (PSQI score reduced from 14.32 to 8.41), anxiety levels (BAI score decreased), FMS total score (increased from 9.24 to 12.12), and reaction time (improved from 0.59 s to 0.48 s) compared to baseline and controls (p
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