Mindfulness and acceptance and commitment therapy for problematic alcohol use and disorders: an updated rapid review.

This article systematically reviews recent evidence on mindfulness and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for treating Alcohol Use Disorders (AUDs) and problematic alcohol use. The review found growing support for mindfulness-based interventions, such as Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention (MBRP) and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), in reducing alcohol consumption and improving comorbid symptoms like anxiety, depression, and trauma across diverse populations and settings. ACT, which incorporates mindfulness and behavioral components focused on psychological flexibility and values-based action, shows promise but has fewer and lower-quality studies compared to mindfulness. The findings suggest mindfulness therapies may be as effective as traditional treatments and beneficial for comorbidities, with future research recommended to explore mechanisms, biomarkers, and technology-based delivery methods.