Author: Kumar R1, Kumar KJ2, Benegal V3, Roopesh BN4, Ravi GS5
Affiliation: <sup>1</sup>Department of Clinical Psychology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru 560029, India. Electronic address: bhurajes@gmail.com.
<sup>2</sup>Department of Clinical Psychology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru 560029, India. Electronic address: keshavjkapp@gmail.com.
<sup>3</sup>Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru 560029, India. Electronic address: vbenegal@gmail.com.
<sup>4</sup>Department of Clinical Psychology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru 560029, India. Electronic address: bn.roopesh@gmail.com.
<sup>5</sup>Department of Biostatistics, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru 560029, India. Electronic address: ravigs1988@gmail.com.
Conference/Journal: Asian J Psychiatr.
Date published: 2019 May 3
Other:
Volume ID: 43 , Pages: 37-44 , Special Notes: doi: 10.1016/j.ajp.2019.05.006. [Epub ahead of print] , Word Count: 265
OBJECTIVE: Alcoholism could be a core problem of self-regulatory failure. Several neurocognitive theories have hypothesized hypo-functioning or dysfunction of reflective (executive) system and heightened functioning of reactive (impulsive) system in self-regulatory failure implicated in drug addiction. Similarly, stress and affect dysregulation may breakdown self-regulation. The present study aimed to develop an Integrated Intervention Program for Alcoholism (IIPA) to enhance self-regulation and to test its effectiveness in the treatment of alcoholism.
METHOD: Individuals with early onset alcoholism (n = 50) were recruited after getting written informed consent. The study used randomized case control design. The participants were matched on age (+/-1 year) and education (+/-1 year). The TAU group received usual treatment for alcoholism which included pharmacotherapy, 6 sessions/week yoga and 3 sessions/week group therapy on relapse prevention. The intervention group received IIPA for 18 days along with usual treatment (except yoga sessions). The IIPA included several cognitive remediation tasks and mind-body exercise (Qigong and Tai Chi Chuan). Both groups were assessed on executive function tests and affect regulation scale at pre and post-intervention. The subjects were also followed up for 6 months to compare the abstinence between groups.
RESULTS: Both groups were comparable at baseline. At post-intervention, the IIPA group showed a significant improvement compared to the TAU group on executive functioning and affect regulation. Follow-up results showed lower relapses in six months in the IIPA group.
CONCLUSION: Preliminary evidence showed that IIPA is effective in facilitating self-regulation. Further study may examine its utility and feasibility in other clinical conditions.
Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
KEYWORDS: Alcoholism; Executive functions; Follow-up; IIPA; Intervention; Self-regulation
PMID: 31078094 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajp.2019.05.006