Application of mindfulness based intervention on emotional regulation among individual with alcohol dependence syndrome

Page: 480-486

Uparikar D. Premkant and Singh R. Amool (Department of Clinical Psychology, Ranchi Institute of Neuro-Psychiatry and Allied Sciences, Kanke, Ranchi, Jharkhand)

Models of psychopathology recognize that automatic behavior without conscious attention to behavior (mindlessness) is associated with intrusive and ruminative thoughts about past or future events, leading to distressed states of mind, passivity, and the repetition of habitual coping patterns that ultimately leads into emotional dysregulation. So, mindfulness based intervention can plays an important role on emotion regulation. Aim of the present study was to examine the application of Mindfulness based intervention on emotional regulation among individual with alcohol dependence syndrome. To carry out this study, fourteen individuals diagnosed with ADS were taken from inpatient services of RINPAS, Kanke, Ranchi. Amongst these, seven individuals were randomly distributed in experimental group (MBRPT group) and Treatment as usual group (TAU group). Amongst the fourteen patients, seven patients were the part of TAU group and they received treatment as usual only. Other seven patients, forming of MBRPT group were provided with the Mindfulness based relapse prevention therapy program. Nature of the sample was purposive sampling. Socio-Demographic and Clinical Data Sheet was used to obtain information about age, gender, education, duration of illness, symptoms, dependency pattern, and treatment history etc. Outcome variables were measures by two scales i.e. Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale, and The Stages of Change Readiness and Treatment Eagerness Scale. Participants meeting inclusion criteria for the study were assessed by tools for pre-assessment. Therapeutic program consisted of approximately 16 sessions or as per as requirement. Outcome variables were emotion regulation, readiness for motivational change. The findings furnished evidence for the mediating mechanisms through which the relapse can be avoided by using higher emotional regulatory capabilities and tolerance of distressful emotional environment. Present study suggests that MBRPT leads to significant improvement in the acceptance of distressful emotions, less emotional involvement in engaging goal directed activities, intellectual awareness of ones emotions, positive over conventional patterns which stimulate accessibility of emotional coping strategies and readiness to change the current habit pattern.