The UB Research Institute on Addictions (RIA) is launching a study to examine the effects of "mindfulness-based stress reduction" (MBSR) in the treatment of alcoholism. For the past 37 years the RIA has been making groundbreaking addiction discoveries.
Alcohol abuse is one of the most common and destructive ways that students choose to deal with stress. RIA, a national leader in the study of alcohol and substance abuse issues through the MBSR study, is investigating alternative ways to deal with stress, as well as ways to increase stress management abilities.
"The study is anticipated to begin this winter and will take approximately four years to complete," said Kimberly Walitzer, Ph.D., deputy director for RIA and one of the investigators on the project.
According to Walitzer, stress is in everyone's lives and can be dealt with many different ways, although people often deal with stress by turning to alcohol. RIA is investigating alternative ways to deal with stress.
MBSR has never been used in the treatment of alcohol abuse but is often used in behavioral medicine for stress reduction, Walitzer said.
Gerald J. Connors, Ph.D., the director of the RIA, is the clinical psychologist heading MBSR in an alcoholism treatment study. According to Connors, the study is a first for the institute.
The study is being funded by a million-dollar grant given to the institute by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), according to Connors.
"There are two core phases of the project. In the first phase, we will adapt the MBSR treatment that has been used with other clinical populations for application with alcohol abusers," Connors said. "In the second phase, we will conduct a pilot study to assess the impact of the intervention on clients' ability to avoid drinking after treatment."
According to Walitzer, it is hypothesized that MBSR will decrease relapses to drinking following treatment and improve psychological well-being.
RIA's main goal in conducting the research is to provide an outpatient treatment in the Buffalo area through their clinical research center. The staff of certified professionals provides services to clients who need help along with their families, explained Connors.
"It is our expectation that becoming more mindful and aware of one's behavior and cognitions in a range of situations faced after treatment will help people not to use alcohol to cope, but instead to use other coping strategies and thus avoid relapsing," Connors said.
According to Connors, the RIA has just now received funding for the study, so there are no results as of yet. Previous research by others using MBSR with other populations (i.e. non-alcohol/substance abusers) would suggest clients in treatment for an alcohol use disorder will see similar benefits.
"MBSR has the potential to decrease relapse to drinking following treatment, which would provide important health benefits to individuals being treated for alcohol dependence," Walitzer said.
RIA frequently recruits participants locally from the Buffalo area. Students interested in participating in a research project at RIA, located at 1021 Main St., are encouraged to call (716) 887-2239 and leave their name on the Telephone Project Recruitment Line.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
