Mindfulness-Based Ecological Momentary Intervention for Opioid Use Disorder and Chronic Pain

There is a paucity of interventions for co-occurring opioid use disorder and chronic pain. Difficulty with emotion regulation is a key shared vulnerability factor underlying both conditions. Mindfulness-Based Interventions (MBIs) are a promising intervention approach, as they target core skills that can improve emotion regulation. However, research on MBIs for co-morbid opioid use disorder and chronic pain is limited. Existing MBIs are also limited by not providing adequate support "in the moment" when individuals are in high-risk situations. A responsive, momentary MBI for co-occurring opioid use disorder and chronic pain may be highly promising, but has yet to be established. In the present study, we will be evaluating a smartphone app-based ecological momentary intervention, called Mindful Journey, for individuals with opioid use disorder and chronic pain. The core feature of the app is training in mindful acceptance and savoring skills via momentary "just-in-time" delivery of brief video-based exercises when individuals report elevations in challenging emotional states (e.g., craving, stress, and pain) and/or decreases in positive affect based upon ecological momentary assessments.