Four-week Tai Chi intervention decreases attention bias to drug cues in individuals with methamphetamine use disorder. (3rd September 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: He, Meiheng; Yang, Suyong; Miao, Yue; Zhang, Weikun; Zhu, Dong; Xu, Ding
• Is Part Of: American journal of drug and alcohol abuse. Volume 47:Number 5(2021)
• Page Start: 638
• Page End: 648
• Publication Date: 2021-09-03
• Subjects: Methamphetamine -- substance use disorder -- attention bias -- Tai Chi -- intervention; Drug abuse -- Treatment -- Periodicals; Alcoholism -- Treatment -- Periodicals; Substance-abuse -- Treatment -- Periodicals; Alcoholism -- Periodicals; Substance-Related Disorders -- Periodicals; 616.86
• DOI: 10.1080/00952990.2021.1950745
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0095-2990

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Background : Mind-body exercise is used for the rehabilitation of individuals with methamphetamine use disorder (MUD). Attention bias to substances is an important index of MUD. However, whether a mind-body exercise intervention can decrease attention bias is unclear. Objective : This study aimed to test the effect of a four-week Tai Chi (a Chinese traditional mind-body exercise) exercise program on the attention bias of individuals with MUD. Methods : Thirty-two men with MUD and without Tai Chi practice experience were recruited and randomly assigned to either a Tai Chi exercise group or a control group. The Tai Chi group received four-week Tai Chi training, while the control group engaged in daily exercise (including radio gymnastics and Jianxincao, two kinds of free-hand exercises). During a drug-related Stroop task, participants were instructed to respond to the color of the word ignoring the word type (drug-related or neutral words). The reaction time and d' (the index of sensitivity) were measured. Results : The participants showed attention bias to substance cues; the reaction time was slower for drug-related words than for neutral words ( p < .05). After the Tai Chi intervention, the Tai Chi group showed a faster reaction time ( ps < .05) and a smaller d' ( ps < .05) than the baseline across all the word types. In contrast, the control group showed no differences ( ps > .05). Conclusion : Four-week Tai Chi intervention reduced sensitivity and attentional bias to drug-related cues in individuals with MUD, suggesting that mind-body exercise might enhance recovery from MUD via attention control.