Investigation of Attention and Mindfulness Training on Attentional bias and Cognitive Control in Drug Addiction

This thesis investigates the effects of attention and mindfulness training on attentional bias and cognitive control in drug addiction. The thesis begins by describing theoretical models of attentional bias in addictions and the approaches taken to measure addiction-related attentional bias. It then presents six empirical studies. That two studies tested social drinkers who are undergraduate students in the UK, and four studies tested alcohol and methamphetamine inpatients in Thailand. The Stroop task and visual probe task were used to examine attentional bias and cognitive control. The interventions were based on the visual probe paradigm and mindfulness-based activities. In summary, the findings show i) Attentional bias modification training or daily mindfulness practice did not change attentional bias or cognitive control. ii) Attentional bias was found in non-patients but not in patients whereas cognitive control was found in all studies and was stronger in patients. iii) A new mindful-colouring task was developed that induces cognitive control in patients, decreases craving in both patients and non-patients, and alters affect in non-patients. iv) The daily practice of mindful-breathing and body scan increased motivation to change in alcohol inpatients but not methamphetamine inpatients. Our findings highlight important avenues for further developing attention training programs alongside other treatments.