Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement: An Evidence-Based, Neuroscience-Informed Psychotherapeutic Approach for Addiction and Chronic Pain with Eric Garland, PhD, LCSW-Webinar recording

Video Transcription

Video Summary

Dr. David Stifler introduces a webinar on advanced addiction psychotherapy hosted by the American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry, partnered with Oregon Health and Science University and New York University. The focus was on mindfulness-oriented recovery enhancement (MORE), presented by Dr. Eric Garland, a PhD and LCSW who developed this therapy. Dr. Garland’s MORE integrates mindfulness training, cognitive behavioral therapy, and positive psychology to treat opioid misuse, chronic pain, and emotional distress.<br /><br />Dr. Garland’s MORE specifically addresses the high comorbidity of opioid misuse with chronic pain and mental health issues like depression and PTSD. Traditional opioid treatments see high relapse rates, necessitating adjunctive approaches like psychotherapy. MORE aims to reform neural pathways related to addiction and pleasure by improving patients' natural reward responses and enhancing self-regulation through mindfulness and savoring positive experiences.<br /><br />Research on MORE, backed by over 250 scientific manuscripts and $80 million in grants, underscores its effectiveness. Clinical trials showed significant reductions in opioid misuse, chronic pain, and psychiatric symptoms when MORE was added to standard treatments like methadone. Additionally, neurophysiological studies revealed that MORE decreases brain reactivity to drug cues and increases responsiveness to natural rewards, supporting Dr. Garland’s restructuring reward hypothesis.<br /><br />The session concludes with Dr. Garland answering questions, emphasizing the importance of combining MORE with traditional medication treatments rather than using it as a stand-alone therapy. The discussion also underlines the role of mindfulness in enhancing cognitive flexibility and fostering positive emotional regulation, crucial for effective addiction recovery.

Keywords

addiction psychotherapy

mindfulness-oriented recovery enhancement

MORE

Dr. Eric Garland

opioid misuse

chronic pain

emotional distress

cognitive behavioral therapy

positive psychology

neural pathways

clinical trials

natural rewards

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