Yoga and Mindfulness for Addiction - Version 1.0
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Realistic Evaluation of a Yoga Therapy and Mindfulness for Addiction Group
IRAS ID
213692
Contact name
Kim McCall
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
King's College London
Duration of Study in the UK
5 years, 1 months, 28 days
Research summary
There is a growing body of evidence for using mind and body practices in treating addiction. A number of small RCTs and systematic reviews point towards the effectiveness of mindfulness and yoga in helping to reduce use of alcohol, tobacco, opiates and cocaine. Other studies suggest an equally beneficial role for either aerobic or mind/body exercise in recovering from addiction (Posadski et al, 2014; Carim-Todd et al, 2013; Elibero et al, 2011). However, the research evidence is largely compromised by risk of bias, particularly through lack of blinding and potential recruitment bias. A review of any type of yoga for any type of addiction by Posadski et al (2014) found high risk from lack of blinding and reported that none of the eight randomised controlled trials (RCTs) included in the review was free from methodological flaws. Carim-Todd et al (2013) reviewed 14 clinical trials into mind/body practices for smoking cessation and reported that studies provided insufficient information about avoiding recruitment bias, blinding of assessors and analysts, or strategies to compensate for lack of blinding in participants. Both of these reviews found meta-analysis could not be carried out because the mind/body practices studied varied from study to study or were not similar or were not described in enough detail to be compared, and because the outcomes measured were different. Furthermore, the evidence does not provide the detailed information needed to understand how and why yoga and mind/body may be effective for those with addictions. Commentators present a range of theories, including improved techniques to manage anxiety, tolerate discomfort and withdrawal, and manage responses to cues and triggers, but none of these has been explored or tested.
REC name
South Central - Berkshire B Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/SC/0558
Date of REC Opinion
5 Dec 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion