Mindfulness vs. heroin: brain scans may reveal who recovers

NCT ID NCT04112186

Completed Disease control Sponsor: Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jul 24, 2026 · Last updated Jul 24, 2026

Summary

This trial uses brain scans to see whether 8 weeks of mindfulness-based group therapy changes how the brain processes reward, craving, and self-control in people with heroin addiction. About 157 adults on medication for opioid use disorder will be randomly assigned to mindfulness therapy or a standard group therapy. Researchers will compare brain activity before and after treatment and track drug use for three months afterward. The goal is to find brain markers that could predict recovery and help personalize addiction treatment.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: mindfulness-based group therapy
What this could lead to: If it works, this could help identify brain-based markers that predict who benefits most from mindfulness therapy for opioid addiction, enabling more personalized treatment.
What could go wrong: This is an early-stage brain-imaging study, not a large treatment trial. It may not show clear differences between therapy types, and brain changes don't always translate to real-world recovery.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

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