Mindfulness Meditation for Chronic Pain

Overseen By Radha Korupolu, MD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston

Disqualifiers: No internet, Visual/hearing impairment, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

Duration: 6 weeks

282 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of a 6-week app-guided MM intervention compared to a 6-week app-guided health education AC condition on pain intensity, pain interference, depression, and anxiety.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It seems likely that you can continue your medications, but you should confirm with the study staff.

What data supports the effectiveness of mindfulness meditation treatment for chronic pain?

Research shows that mindfulness meditation can significantly reduce pain, improve mood, and decrease the need for pain medication in chronic pain patients. These benefits were maintained for up to 15 months after training, suggesting long-term effectiveness. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is mindfulness meditation safe for treating chronic pain?

Research shows that mindfulness meditation is generally safe for treating chronic pain, with studies indicating it is feasible and acceptable for patients, including those on long-term opioid therapy. No significant safety concerns have been reported in the studies reviewed. ^{2 3 6 7 8}

How does mindfulness meditation treatment differ from other treatments for chronic pain?

Mindfulness meditation is unique because it helps people manage chronic pain by focusing on the present moment and reducing the emotional distress associated with pain, rather than directly targeting the pain itself. Unlike traditional treatments, it can improve mood, reduce anxiety and depression, and increase self-esteem, with benefits lasting up to 15 months after training. ^{1 9 10 11 12}

Research Team

Radha Korupolu, MD

Principal Investigator

The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for individuals with spinal cord injury who experience chronic pain. Participants should be interested in trying a mobile app-based intervention to help manage their pain and improve mental health.

Inclusion Criteria

I have had pain for at least 3 months that feels 4/10 or worse.

Understand spoken and written English sufficiently to provide informed consent, participate in the intervention and complete study surveys

I have had a spinal cord injury for at least 6 months.

Exclusion Criteria

I understand the study details after answering questions about it.

Lack of daily internet access

Significant visual/hearing impairment that does not allow use of the MM app's audiovisual presentations

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants undergo a 6-week app-guided mindfulness meditation intervention or a health education control condition

6 weeks

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in pain intensity, pain interference, depression, and anxiety after the intervention

4 weeks

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Health Education Active Control Intervention
• Mindfulness meditation (MM) Intervention

Trial Overview The study tests if a 6-week mindfulness meditation (MM) program, delivered through an app, can reduce pain and emotional distress better than a general health education program also provided via an app.

Participant Groups

Group I: Mindfulness meditation (MM) Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Group II: Active Control (AC) Active Control 1 Intervention

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston

Lead Sponsor

Trials

974

Recruited

361,000+

National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)

Collaborator

Trials

886

Recruited

677,000+

Findings from Research

A 10-week mindfulness meditation program for 90 chronic pain patients led to significant reductions in pain perception, mood disturbances, and psychological symptoms like anxiety and depression, along with increased self-esteem and activity levels.

Improvements were maintained for up to 15 months after training, indicating the long-term benefits of mindfulness meditation, while a comparison group receiving traditional treatments showed no significant improvements.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The clinical use of mindfulness meditation for the self-regulation of chronic pain. Kabat-Zinn, J., Lipworth, L., Burney, R.[2022]

A pilot study involving 147 persistent pain patients tested a brief mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) and found it feasible to recruit participants, although there were no significant immediate effects on pain severity.

The MBI group reported greater 'usefulness' of the intervention at 1 week and improved pain self-efficacy at 1 month compared to the control group, suggesting potential long-term benefits of mindfulness practices for pain management.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Pilot randomised controlled trial of a brief mindfulness-based intervention for those with persistent pain. Howarth, A., Riaz, M., Perkins-Porras, L., et al.[2021]

Mindfulness-based meditation has been shown to effectively reduce chronic pain, making it a valuable option for patients who do not respond well to traditional medications or surgeries.

Research indicates that mindfulness interventions may work through specific neural mechanisms, providing both immediate and long-lasting pain relief for individuals suffering from chronic pain.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Mindfulness Meditation in the Treatment of Chronic Pain. Brandel, MG., Lin, C., Hennel, D., et al.[2022]

A systematic review of 15 randomized controlled trials involving 1,199 patients found inconclusive evidence for mindfulness skills training (MST) improving self-reported physical function in chronic pain, highlighting variability in how physical function was measured.

Strong evidence indicated that MST did not lead to improvements in physical function when assessed through performance-based measures, suggesting a need for standardized assessment methods in future studies.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Physical functioning and mindfulness skills training in chronic pain: a systematic review. Jackson, W., Zale, EL., Berman, SJ., et al.[2023]

Mindfulness-based interventions have been shown to effectively reduce chronic pain intensity and improve overall quality of life, based on a review of 72 systematic reviews and clinical trials.

These interventions can also support individuals with substance use disorders and help maintain smoking abstinence when used alongside standard treatments, indicating their versatility in managing co-occurring health issues.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Emerging Role of Mindfulness Meditation as Effective Self-Management Strategy, Part 2: Clinical Implications for Chronic Pain, Substance Misuse, and Insomnia. Khusid, MA., Vythilingam, M.[2018]

The Mindfulness-Based Chronic Pain Management (MBCPM) program showed feasibility in a study with 31 veterans, leading to significant improvements in pain catastrophizing scores, indicating better coping strategies, although pain intensity itself did not significantly change.

Qualitative feedback from participants highlighted feelings of connection, increased awareness, and a sense of control, suggesting that the program may enhance overall quality of life for veterans dealing with chronic pain.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Feasibility of Mindfulness-Based Intervention for Veterans Managing Chronic Pain. Chen, SP., Liu, HT., Appelt, JC., et al.[2023]

An 8-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program was found to be as effective as a multidisciplinary pain intervention (MPI) program in reducing pain intensity and pain-related distress in patients with chronic pain, based on a study of 99 participants.

Both interventions led to statistically significant improvements in pain and mood symptoms, but the overall differences between MBSR and MPI were not significant, indicating that both approaches can be beneficial for managing chronic pain.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Comparing the effectiveness of mindfulness-based stress reduction and multidisciplinary intervention programs for chronic pain: a randomized comparative trial. Wong, SY., Chan, FW., Wong, RL., et al.[2015]

References

1. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The clinical use of mindfulness meditation for the self-regulation of chronic pain. [2022]

2. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Pilot randomised controlled trial of a brief mindfulness-based intervention for those with persistent pain. [2021]

3. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

An outpatient program in behavioral medicine for chronic pain patients based on the practice of mindfulness meditation: theoretical considerations and preliminary results. [2022]

4. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Mindfulness Meditation in the Treatment of Chronic Pain. [2022]

5. New Zealand pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Physical functioning and mindfulness skills training in chronic pain: a systematic review. [2023]

6. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Mindfulness Meditation-Based Intervention Is Feasible, Acceptable, and Safe for Chronic Low Back Pain Requiring Long-Term Daily Opioid Therapy. [2018]

7. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Treating Chronic Pain A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. [2021]

8. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Emerging Role of Mindfulness Meditation as Effective Self-Management Strategy, Part 2: Clinical Implications for Chronic Pain, Substance Misuse, and Insomnia. [2018]

9. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Mindfulness meditation is related to sensory-affective uncoupling of pain in trained novice and expert practitioners. [2021]

10. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Feasibility of Mindfulness-Based Intervention for Veterans Managing Chronic Pain. [2023]

11. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Chronic Pain: A Multicenter Study. [2023]

12. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Comparing the effectiveness of mindfulness-based stress reduction and multidisciplinary intervention programs for chronic pain: a randomized comparative trial. [2015]