Effects of mindfulness training combined with aerobic exercise in people with methamphetamine use disorder: Evidence from sleep, brain activation, and cravings

Objective: To explore the clinical rehabilitation benefits of mindfulness combined with aerobic calisthenics for people with methamphetamines (MA) use disorder. Methods: In a randomized controlled trial design, 52 male with MA use disorder were randomly divided into mindfulness combined with aerobic calisthenics group (MACG), aerobic calisthenics group (ACG), and control group (CG). The electroencephalogram, sleep quality, and drug craving in the three groups were measured before and after the 12-week intervention, respectively. Results: 1) Sleep quality and drug craving of MACG and ACG were significantly improved after intervention, and the former had a better effect. 2) Compared with baseline, Fz-alpha wave energy values of MACG and ACG faced with drug image stimulation (drug task) were significantly increased after intervention (both p < 0.001), while CG was still significantly lower than neutral task (p < 0.05). 3)After intervention, the Fz-alpha (both p < 0.01), F3-alpha (p < 0.01, p < 0.05, respectively), and F4-alpha wave (both p < 0.01) of MACG and ACG in drug tasks were significantly increased and higher than those of CG. 4)Both in drug and neutral tasks, the PSQI score of the three groups after intervention were negatively correlated with prefrontal alpha wave, the PSQI score was significantly positively correlated with drug craving, and the correlation between the two exercise groups was stronger. Conclusion: Mindfulness combined with aerobics calisthenics was more conducive to improving the sleep quality of people with MA use disorder, and regulating the abnormal activation of prefrontal lobe in the face of drug cue stimulation, and ultimately conducive to the reduction of craving.