Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention and Psychophysiological Self-Regulation

Project Summary/Abstract This Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development application (K23) will provide protected time for Dr. Matison McCool to strengthen his trajectory as an independent researcher at the University of New Mexico, Center on Alcohol, Substance use, And Addictions (CASAA). His goal is to develop expertise in mindfulness-

based interventions, heart rate variability (HRV), advanced quantitative methods, wearable sensors, and other mobile health approaches to help improve, adapt, and develop interventions for alcohol use disorder (AUD). To develop expertise in these areas, the candidate proposes an innovative, mentored research study

using wearable sensors to collect psychophysiological HRV data before and after each mindfulness-based relapse prevention (MBRP) treatment session. The weekly HRV data is coupled with an ecological momentary assessment (EMA) protocol to examine the addiction cycle in daily life. This study builds on

existing literature suggesting that mindfulness-based interventions induce changes in HRV by focusing on measuring HRV epochs weekly throughout treatment, instead of pre-post treatment only, and assessing the effect of HRV on the relationship between negative affect, craving, and alcohol use (consistent with NIAAA

FY 2017-2021 Strategic Plan Goal 4). Combining multiple HRV measurement occasions with EMA data collection in a longitudinal structural equation modeling framework, this study provides training in basic science to understand HRV, and how the results may improve MBRP, and inform adaptations of MBRP for adaptive

interventions (consistent with NIAAA Strategic Plan Goal 4 Objectives 4a and 4d). This mentored study will offer training to help the candidate develop expertise to establish his own independent research program examining mobile health adaptations of mindfulness-based interventions and their components while utilizing

sensors to prompt treatment and assess treatment component effectiveness. With the guidance of his training team, Dr. McCool’s training plan and mentored study are integrated and selected to promote the development of a comprehensive skillset in the following areas: 1) mindfulness-based interventions for AUD (Dr. Witkiewitz;

UNM) 2) basic psychophysiological science related to HRV and AUD (Dr. Eddie, Harvard; Dr. Buckman, Rutgers), 3) advanced quantitative skills (Dr. Pearson, UNM; Dr. Witkiewitz), 4) wearable sensors and other advanced mobile health technologies (Dr. Schwebel, UNM; Dr. Eddie), and 5) professional development,

dissemination, grantsmanship, and the responsible conduct of research (Drs. Witkiewitz, Pearson, Schwebel, Eddie, and Buckman). Dr. McCool will visit Dr. Buckman’s lab at Rutgers University-New Brunswick and complete training across the country. Through this training, Dr. McCool will be prepared to develop an

independent research career as a scientist who conducts patient-oriented research and will generate substantial preliminary data for subsequent grant applications as an independent investigator.