Final Paper:
Mindfulness in the Treatment of those with Depression and Co-
occurring Substance Use Disorder
Introduction
, The common traditional treatment methods such as cognitive behavioral
therapy (CBT), psychotherapy, motivational interviewing (MI), and
pharmacological interventions offer valuable support, but may fall short in
fully addressing the emotional dysregulation and cognitive rigidity common
to dual diagnosis populations. Mindfulness-based interventions have gained
growth and progress in promising beneficial and therapeutic additions to
integrative treatment plans. Defined in the art and science of mindfulness:
integrating mindfulness into psychology and the helping professions,
“mindfulness can be referred to as both mindful awareness through freedom
of mind, and mindful practice by intentionally attending in a caring, open,
and discerning way (Shapiro, et al, 2024). By guiding clients to build
awareness of their emotions, thoughts, patterns, and bodily sensations
without becoming overwhelmed or reactive, mindfulness can foster both
psychological flexibility and emotional resilience. This purpose of this paper
will be to explore the theoretical basis for mindfulness in treating co-
occurring depression and substance abuse, examine key research findings,
and illustrate application through a case example.
Theory Section: Why Mindfulness is Effective for Dual
Diagnosis
When working with individuals with co-occurring disorders of depression and
substance use, mindfulness can be utilized for treatment in many ways. First
off using mindfulness as a form of treatment would overlap with both
depression and SUDS due to it helping in building healthy coping
mechanisms, not focus on rumination, and work through pursing emotional
regulation. Individuals that struggle with substance use could be relying on
the substance as a way to escape their emotional state creating a unhealthy
repeating patterns between both conditions. Taking on a theoretical point of
view, mindfulness has been known to help guide individuals on developing
awareness and presence of themselves. Along with creating awareness with
emotions and thoughts without overly identifying with them and letting them
pass through in healthy coping mechanisms. The skill of mindfulness is
important for those with co-occurring depression and SUDS due to its ability
to interrupt automatic behaviors such as substance use triggered by
depressive episodes or vice versa. By guiding individuals in working through
their distress and stay present within themselves, mindfulness begins
building emotional regulation and distress tolerance – two capacities often
impaired in dual diagnosis cases.
Mindfulness in the Treatment of those with Depression and Co-
occurring Substance Use Disorder
Introduction
, The common traditional treatment methods such as cognitive behavioral
therapy (CBT), psychotherapy, motivational interviewing (MI), and
pharmacological interventions offer valuable support, but may fall short in
fully addressing the emotional dysregulation and cognitive rigidity common
to dual diagnosis populations. Mindfulness-based interventions have gained
growth and progress in promising beneficial and therapeutic additions to
integrative treatment plans. Defined in the art and science of mindfulness:
integrating mindfulness into psychology and the helping professions,
“mindfulness can be referred to as both mindful awareness through freedom
of mind, and mindful practice by intentionally attending in a caring, open,
and discerning way (Shapiro, et al, 2024). By guiding clients to build
awareness of their emotions, thoughts, patterns, and bodily sensations
without becoming overwhelmed or reactive, mindfulness can foster both
psychological flexibility and emotional resilience. This purpose of this paper
will be to explore the theoretical basis for mindfulness in treating co-
occurring depression and substance abuse, examine key research findings,
and illustrate application through a case example.
Theory Section: Why Mindfulness is Effective for Dual
Diagnosis
When working with individuals with co-occurring disorders of depression and
substance use, mindfulness can be utilized for treatment in many ways. First
off using mindfulness as a form of treatment would overlap with both
depression and SUDS due to it helping in building healthy coping
mechanisms, not focus on rumination, and work through pursing emotional
regulation. Individuals that struggle with substance use could be relying on
the substance as a way to escape their emotional state creating a unhealthy
repeating patterns between both conditions. Taking on a theoretical point of
view, mindfulness has been known to help guide individuals on developing
awareness and presence of themselves. Along with creating awareness with
emotions and thoughts without overly identifying with them and letting them
pass through in healthy coping mechanisms. The skill of mindfulness is
important for those with co-occurring depression and SUDS due to its ability
to interrupt automatic behaviors such as substance use triggered by
depressive episodes or vice versa. By guiding individuals in working through
their distress and stay present within themselves, mindfulness begins
building emotional regulation and distress tolerance – two capacities often
impaired in dual diagnosis cases.
