Group Activities to Support Addiction Recovery

Completed · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Addiction, Substance Use Disorders (SUD)

In brief

The purpose of this study is to pilot the use of Holotropic Breathwork (HB) for individuals seeking to recover from addiction. The study will have two arms: A--for individuals in residential treatment programs, B--for individuals living in the community. Arm A will use a cluster randomized intervention, providing HB for individuals at two facilities and a Multiple Modality (MM) intervention (soundbath, meditation, and a film/discussion) at a third facility. In Arm B, we seek to measure the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary impact of HB among people with addiction living in the community. Arm B will be comprised of a single group and participants in this group will receive the same HB experience as the participants in the Arm A HB group. HB is the practice of self-directed hyperventilation while lying down with the support of a selected music set and trained facilitators. Participants may experience an expanded state of consciousness with altered cognition, perception, and emotions. HB has been associated improved mental functioning among the general public and people in addiction treatment, but has never been evaluated in a controlled trial. Inclusion criteria consist of being 19 years of age or older and having met criteria for a substance use disorder within the past five years. Additional inclusion criteria for participants in arm A include being in a residential addiction treatment program at CenterPointe or the Bridge. Exclusion criteria form the Arm A HB group and the Arm B group include having been diagnosed with a bipolar disorder or a psychotic disorder or having had psychotic symptoms at any point in life, diagnosed with a cardiac condition, received care for a cardiac condition, or have current cardiac symptoms, ever diagnosed with a seizure disorder, current uncontrolled hypertension (140/90 or greater), diagnosed with glaucoma or retinal detachment, recent surgeries, or currently pregnant. Four breathwork sessions will be held: two at the UNMC College of Nursing in Lincoln, one at CenterPointe in Omaha, and one at The Bridge in Lincoln. One MM session will be held at The Bridge in Lincoln.

Key facts

Study ID: NCT07071883
Run by: University of Nebraska
People needed: 25
Starts: 2025-08-27
Expected to finish: 2026-04-10
Last updated by the study team: 2026-04-14

Who can join

Age: 19 and older. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

Arm A 19 years of age or older Currently enrolled in a residential addiction treatment program at CenterPointe or the Bridge Met criteria for a substance use disorder in the past five years
Arm B 19 years of age or older Met criteria for a substance use disorder in the past five years

You may not qualify if…

Arm A: HB group and Arm B
Diagnosed with a bipolar disorder at any point in life (per self-report)
Diagnosed with a psychotic disorder or have had psychotic symptoms at any point in life (per self-report)
Diagnosed with a cardiac condition, received care for a cardiac condition, or have current cardiac symptoms (per self-report)
Ever diagnosed with a seizure disorder (per self-report)
Current uncontrolled hypertension (140/90 or greater) (measured the morning of the breathwork)
Ever diagnosed with glaucoma or retinal detachment
Recent surgeries
Currently pregnant (individuals who have engaged in sexual activity since their last menstrual period will be asked to submit a urine sample for a pregnancy screen the morning of the breathwork)
Acutely suicidal (i.e. with an intention and a plan)
Arm A: MM group None

Where it is running

University of Nebraska Medical Center — Lincoln, Nebraska, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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