Sarah Bowen, PhD

Associate Professor | Research Faculty
UC Box 
A-191
HPC 2-297

Roles and Interests

Clinical and Research Interests

Treatment of addictive behaviors and prevention of relapse, dual diagnosis populations, incarcerated adults and adolescents, mindfulness-based approaches to treating addiction and impulsive behavior.  My clinical orientations come from an integration of meditation and mindfulness-based approaches and radical behaviorism.

Education

  • Post-Doctoral Fellow, University of Washington Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, 2009
  • PhD, University of Washington, Department of Psychology, doctor of philosophy in clinical psychology, 2008
  • Pre-Doctoral Intern, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, 2008
  • BA, University of Washington, Department of Psychology, bachelor of arts in psychology, 2001

Recent Publications (*denotes student author)

*Somohano, V.C. & Bowen, S. (2022). A trauma-integrated adaptation of Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention for women with co- occurring PTSD and substance use disorder: A cluster-randomized pilot trial. Journal of Integrative and Complementary Medicine, 28, 729-738.

*Somohano, V. C., *Shank, T., *Manuel, J., *Mallik, D., *Rehder, K., & Bowen, S. (2021). The role of pre-treatment expectancy on substance use outcomes in women mandated to Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 27, 1147-1155.

Bowen, S., *Dingle, T., *Laue, C. & *Somohano, V. (2021). Overlaying Buddhist and behaviorist lenses to better understand and address human suffering. Spirituality in Clinical Psychology. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1037/scp0000275

Barros, V. V., Opaleye, E. S., Demarzo, M., Curado, D. F., Bowen, S., Hachul, H., & Noto, A. R. (2021). Effects of mindfulness-based relapse prevention on the chronic use of hypnotics in treatment-seeking women with insomnia: A randomized controlled trial. International Journal of Behavioral Medicine. doi:10.1007/s12529-021-10002-4

*Enkema, M. C., Hallgren, K. A., Bowen, S., Lee, C. M., & Larimer, M. E. (2021). Craving management: Exploring factors that influence momentary craving-related risk of cannabis use among young adults. Addictive Behaviors, 115. doi: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2020.106750

*Mallik, D., Kaplan, J., *Somohano, V., Bergman, A., & Bowen, S. (2021). Examining the role of craving, mindfulness, and psychological flexibility in a sample of individuals with substance use disorder. Substance Use & Misuse. doi: 10.1080/10826084.2021.1899220

*Dingle, T., & Bowen, S. (2021). Evaluating substance use treatment efficacy for younger and older adults. Addictive Behaviors, 112. doi: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2020.106618

Kelley, T. M., Hollows, J., Pransky, J., *Kravanos, A. & Bowen, S. (2021). The Efficacy of Three Principles Correctional Counseling for Improving the Mental Health and Self-Control of Prison Residents Prone to Sexual Violence. Violence Against Women. doi: 10.1177/10778012211022783

Roos, C., Bowen, S. & Witkiewitz, K. (2021). Approach coping mediates the effect of mindfulness-based relapse prevention on heavy drinking and substance-related problems when affective symptomatology is high. Mindfulness, 11(10), doi: 10.1007/s12671-020-01456-w

*Weiss de Souza, I.C., Kozasa, E. H., Bowen, S., Richter, K. P., Sartes, L. M., Colugnati, F. A. B., & Noto, A. R. (2020). Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention Program as an Adjunct to the Standard Treatment for Smoking: A Pragmatic Design Pilot Study. Nicotine & Tobacco Research, 22, 1605–1613.

Christopher, M., Bowen, S., & Witkiewitz, K. (2020). Mindfulness-based resilience training for aggression, stress and health in law enforcement officers: Study protocol for a multisite, randomized, single-blind clinical feasibility trial. BMC Trials, 21, 236.

Enkema, M. C., Hallgren, K. A., Neilson, E. C., Larimer, M. E., Bird, E. R., & Bowen, S. (2020). Disrupting the path to craving: Acting without awareness mediates the link between negative affect and craving. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 34, 620-627. doi: 10.1037/adb0000565

*Weiss de Souza, I.C., Kozasa, E. H., Bowen, S., Richter, K. P., Sartes, L. M. A., Colugnati, F. A.B., & Noto, A.R. (2020). Effectiveness of Mindfulness-based Relapse Prevention Program as an Adjunct to the Standard Treatment for Smoking: A Pragmatic Design Pilot Study. Nicotine & Tobacco Research, 22,1605-1613. doi: 10.1093/ntr/ntaa057.

*Weiss de Souza, I.C, Kozasa, E. H., Rabello, L., Mattozo, B., Bowen, S., Richter, K., Sartes, L., & Noto, A. R. (2019). Dispositional mindfulness, affect and tobacco dependence among treatment naive cigarette smokers in Brazil. Tobacco Induced Diseases, 17. doi: 10.18332/tid/105846

*Somohano, V. C., *Rehder, K., *Dingle, T., *Shank, T., & Bowen, S. (2019). PTSD symptom clusters and craving differs by primary drug of choice. Journal of Dual Diagnosis. doi: 10.1080/15504263.2019.1637039

Colgan, D.D., Eddy, A., Bowen, S., & Christopher, M. (2019).  Nonreactivity to internal experience moderates the effects of chronic stress on pain interference among law enforcement officers. Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology. doi: 10.1007/s11896-019-09336-3

*Rehder, K. & Bowen, S. (2019) PTSD Symptom Severity, Cannabis, and Gender: A Zero-Inflated Negative Binomial Regression Model. Substance Use & Misuse, 54. doi: 10.1080/10826084.2019.1575421

*Roos. C., Stein, E., Bowen, S, & Witkiewitz, K. (2019). Individual gender and group gender composition as predictors of differential benefit from mindfulness-based relapse prevention for substance use disorders. Mindfulness, 10, 1560-1567.

*Mallik, D., Bowen, S., Yang, Y., Perkins, R. & Sandoz, E. K. (2019). Raja yoga meditation and medication-assisted treatment for relapse prevention: A pilot study. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment96, 58-64.

*Valenstein-Mah, H., Simpson, T. L., Bowen, S., *Enkema, M. C., Bird, E. R., Cho, H., & Larimer, M. E. (2019). Feasibility pilot of a brief mindfulness intervention for college students with posttraumatic stress symptoms and problem drinking. Mindfulness10, 1255–1268.

*Roos, C. R., Kirouac, M., Stein, E., Wilson, A. D., Bowen, S., & Witkiewitz, K. (2018). An open trial of rolling admission mindfulness-based relapse prevention (rolling mbrp): Feasibility, acceptability, dose-response relations, and mechanisms. Mindfulness. doi: 10.1007/s12671-018-1054-5

Curado, D., Barros, V., Opaleye, E., Bowen, S., Hachul, H., & Noto, A. R. (2018). The role of mindfulness in the insomnia severity of female chronic hypnotic users. International Journal of Behavioral Medicine, doi:10.1007/s12529-018-9724-1

Greenfield, B. L., *Roos, C., *Hagler, K. J., Stein, E., Bowen, S., & Witkiewitz, K. A. (2018). Race/ethnicity and racial group composition moderate the effectiveness of mindfulness-based relapse prevention for substance use disorder. Addictive Behaviors, 81, 96-103.

Christopher, M., Hunsinger, M., Goerling, R., Bowen, S., Rogers, B., Gross, C., Dapolonia, E., & Pruessner, J.  (2018). Mindfulness-based resilience training to reduce health risk, stress reactivity, and aggression among law enforcement officers: a feasibility and preliminary efficacy trial. Psychiatry Research, 264, 104-115.

*Barros, V.V., Opaleye, E.S., Demarzo, M., Bowen, S., Curado, D. F., Helena Hachul, H., & Noto, A. R. (2018). Dispositional mindfulness, anticipation and abstinence symptoms related to hypnotic dependence among insomniac women who seek treatment: a cross-sectional study. PLoS ONE 13, e0194035.

Kaplan, J. B., Christopher, M. S., & Bowen, S. (2018) Dispositional mindfulness moderates the relationship between occupational stressors and perceived stress among law enforcement personnel. Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology33, 227.

Wilson, A. D., *Roos, C. R, Robinson, C. S., Stein, E., *Manuel, J. A., *Enkema, M., Bowen, S., & Witkiewitz, K (2017). Mindfulness-Based Interventions for Addictive Behaviors: Implementation Issues on the Road Ahead. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 31, 888-896.

*Roos, C. R., Bowen, S., & Witkiewitz, K. (2017). Baseline patterns of substance use disorder severity and depression and anxiety symptoms moderate the efficacy of mindfulness-based relapse prevention Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 85, 1041-1051.

*Enkema, M. C. & Bowen, S. (2017). Mindfulness practice moderates the relationship between craving and substance use in a clinical sample.  Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 1-7.

Bowen, S., *Somohano, V., *Rutkie, R, *Manuel, J. & *Rehder, K. (2017). Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention for Methadone Maintenance: A Feasibility Trial. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. 23(7), 541-544.

Kaplan, J.B., *Bergman, A.L., Christopher, M., Bowen, S., & Hunsinger, M. (2017). Role of Resilience in Mindfulness Training for First Responders. Mindfulness, 8, 1373-1380.

*Manuel, J., *Somohano, V., & Bowen, S. (2017). Mindfulness practice and its relationship to the five-facet mindfulness questionnaire. Mindfulness, 2, 361-367.

Bowen, S., De Boer, D., & *Bergman, A. (2017). The role of mindfulness as approach-based coping in the trauma-substance abuse cycle. Addictive Behaviors, 64, 212-216.

*Bergman, A. L., Christopher, M. S., & Bowen, S. (2016). Changes in facets of mindfulness predict stress and anger outcomes for police officers. Mindfulness, 7, 851-858.

Recent Presentations (*denotes student author)

Bowen, S. (2022, September). High Stress/High Trauma Populations: Mindfulness in Prisons and with Police. Presented at the Inaugural UCSD Mindfulness & Compassion Symposium, San Diego, CA.

Moniz-Lewis, D.I.K., Stein, E.R., Bowen, S, & Witkiewitz, K. (2022, June). Examining Mediating Effects of Self-Efficacy on Alcohol and Drug Use Outcomes in Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention and Standard Relapse Prevention. Presented at Research Society on Alcoholism, 45th Annual Scientific Meeting, Orlando, FL.

*Kryvanos, A., *Dingle, T., *Russell, D., *Mallik, D., *Flowers, J. & Bowen, S. (2020, July). Purpose in Prison: The Importance of Psychological Flexibility. Presented at the 100th annual meeting of the Western Psychological Association. Virtual conference.

Opaleye, E.S., Machado, M. P. A., Bowen, S, & Noto, A.R. (2019, October). Feasibility of Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention to Treatment for Substance Use Disorders in Brazil: A mixed methods analyses. Presented at the annual Mind and Life Europe Contemplative Science Symposium, Fürstenfeldbruck, Germany.

Bowen, S. (2019, June). Interrupting Cyclical Patterns of Addiction through Mindfulness Practice and Inquiry. Breakout session leader, Mind and Life Summer Research Institute, Garrison, NY.

*Bergman, A.L., *Rehder, K., *Vasquez, A., Eddy, A., & Bowen, S. (2018, November). Using Mobile Technology to Enhance Engagement and Enactment of Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention. Presented at the biannual meeting of the International Symposium for Contemplative Research, Phoenix, AZ.

Opaleye, E.S., Yano, C.S.N., Machado, M.P.A., Curado, D.F., Bowen, S., & Noto, A.R. (2018, November). Dispositional Mindfulness and Anger Management in People with Substance Use Disorder. Presented at the biannual meeting of the International Symposium for Contemplative Research, Phoenix, AZ.

*Barros, V. V., Opaleye, E. S., Bowen, S., Demarzo, M. M. P., Hachul, H., & Noto, A. R. (2018, November). A Randomized trial on the Effects of Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention (MBRP) on the Pattern of Chronic Use of Hypnotics and Insomnia Among Women Who Seek Treatment. Presented at the biannual meeting of the International Symposium for Contemplative Research, Phoenix, AZ.

*Somohano, V., *Shank, T., & Bowen, S. (2018, November). A Trauma-Informed Adaptation of Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention for Women in Residential Substance Abuse Treatment: A Pilot Trial. (2018, November). Presented at the biannual meeting of the International Symposium for Contemplative Research, Phoenix, AZ. 

Christopher, M., Bowen, S., Goerling, R., & Hunsinger, M. (2018, November). Feasibility and Preliminary Impact of Mindfulness Training on Health Risk, StressReactivity, and Aggression among Law Enforcement Officers. Presented at the biannual meeting of the International Symposium for Contemplative Research, Phoenix, AZ.

*Enkema, M., Kuczynski, A. M., Lee, C., Lindgren, Bowen, S., Hallgren, K., Jun, E. & Larimer, M. (2018, June). How Do We Measure Craving? Intensive Longitudinal Assessment of Craving and Cannabis Use among Young Adults with Problematic Use. Presented at the 80th annual meeting of the College on Problems of Drug Dependence, San Diego, CA.

Bowen, S. (2018, April). Mindfulness- Based Interventions for Addictive Behaviors: Integrating Ancient and Contemporary Approaches to Better Understand and Support Behavior Change. Distinguished Speaker at the 98th annual meeting of the Western Psychological Association, Portland, OR. 

*Enkema, M., Christine Lee, C., Lindgren, K., Bowen, S., & Larimer, M. (2017, June). Patterns of Cannabis Use, Related Problems, and Readiness to Change Among Young Adult College Students. Presented at the 79th annual meeting of the College on Problems of Drug Dependence, Montreal, CA.

Bowen, S. (2016, November). Integrating Contemporary Behavioral and Traditional Contemplative Approaches: Towards an Effective Technology of Behavior Change. Presented at the International Symposium for Contemplative Studies, San Diego CA.

Bowen, S. Roemer, L. Salzberg, S., & Segal, Z., (2016, November). Round Table Discussion (Moderator): Traditional Contemplative Practice and Contemporary Clinical Science: Navigating New and Old Territories. Presented at the International Symposium for Contemplative Studies, San Diego CA.

*Enkema, M. & Bowen, S. (2016, June) Mindfulness practice moderates the relationship between craving and substance use in a clinical sample. In A. L. Bergman (chair) Substance Use and CBS. Presented at the 14th Association for Contextual Behavioral Science World Conference. Seattle, WA.

Bowen, S. (2016, April). Mindfulness-Based Approaches for Preventing Relapse. Presented at the first annual meeting of  MindfulnessTN, Knoxville, TN.

Bowen, S. (2016, March) Mindfulness-based Approaches to the Treatment of Addictive Behaviors. Presented at the 18th annual meeting of Fundamentals of Addiction Medicine, Tualitin, WA.

Witkiewitz, K., Bowen, S., & Roos, C. (2016, March). Mindfulness-Based Interventions for Alcohol and Substance Use Disorders: Empirical Findings and Recent Adaptations. Presented at the 4th annual meeting of Collaborative Perspectives on Addiction, San Diego, CA.

Instructor

  • Science and Practice of Mindfulness
  • Psychopathology
  • Clinical Practicum

Professional Memberships & Affiliations

  • American Psychological Association
  • Association of Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, Mindfulness and Acceptance Special Interest Group, Chair
  • Mind and Life Institute, Research Fellow

 

Headlines

Michael Christopher

A team of Pacific University researchers led by psychology Professor Michael Christopher and Associate Professor Sarah Bowen has been awarded follow-on funding by the National Institutes of Health for research and training of law enforcement officials in mindfulness practices. The project is intended to affect and improve outcomes when first responders arrive in volatile situations.

Sarah Bowen, associate professor, was featured in an article about mindfulness.