Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Chronic Pain and Depression
What You Need to Know Before You Apply
What is the purpose of this trial?
This trial explores whether mindfulness-based cognitive therapy can help older Black adults manage chronic pain and depression. Researchers aim to determine if this therapy improves life quality and reduces pain more effectively than a standard health program. The trial involves two groups: one trying the mindfulness therapy and the other following the Health Enhancement Program, a standard health program. Ideal participants are over 50, identify as Black, have experienced muscle or joint pain for more than three months, and feel depressed. Participants should also be comfortable with in-person and video meetings. As an unphased trial, this study offers a unique opportunity to contribute to research that could enhance treatment options for chronic pain and depression.
Do I have to stop taking my current medications for the trial?
The trial does not specify if you need to stop taking your current medications, but you must not change the type or dose of antidepressant medications for at least 6 weeks before screening.
Is there any evidence suggesting that this trial's treatments are likely to be safe?
Research shows that mindfulness programs like Quiet Focus are generally easy for people to handle. Studies with adults who have chronic pain have found shorter mindfulness programs to be doable and welcomed. Participants can complete these programs with few issues and are usually willing to take part.
While specific reports of negative effects for Quiet Focus are absent, mindfulness programs like it typically do not cause major side effects. They aim to improve mental health and quality of life.
The Health Enhancement Program serves as a comparison in this trial. It acts as a standard to measure Quiet Focus and is not the main focus for safety checks. However, its inclusion in the trial suggests it is considered safe as a comparison treatment.
Overall, existing evidence indicates that both treatments in this trial are safe and well-tolerated.12345Why are researchers excited about this trial?
Researchers are excited about the Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy techniques like Quiet Focus because they offer a new way to manage chronic pain and depression without relying on medications. Traditional treatments often involve drugs like antidepressants or pain relievers, which can have side effects and dependency issues. Quiet Focus is different because it uses mindfulness to help patients manage their symptoms by increasing awareness and cognitive flexibility. This approach could lead to sustainable mental and physical health improvements without the risks associated with long-term medication use.
What evidence suggests that this trial's treatments could be effective for chronic pain and depression?
Research has shown that Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) can help manage long-term pain and depression. In this trial, participants will join one of two treatment arms: the Quiet Focus program or the Health Enhancement Program. Studies indicate that MBCT can provide benefits for up to six months, particularly for individuals whose depression hasn't improved with other treatments. It helps people control their emotions better, reducing pain's impact on their lives and boosting confidence in handling daily tasks. This therapy has shown promise in improving well-being and managing chronic pain more effectively than traditional methods. These findings suggest that MBCT could be a useful option for those dealing with both chronic pain and depression.12678
Who Is on the Research Team?
Tony V Pham
Principal Investigator
Massachusetts General Hospital
Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?
This trial is for older adults (50+) who identify as Black, have chronic pain (NRS>4) lasting over 3 months, and are experiencing mild to moderate depression. They must be stable on antidepressants for at least 6 weeks, fluent in English, and willing to consent and participate both in-person and via video.Inclusion Criteria
Timeline for a Trial Participant
Screening
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial
Treatment
Participants undergo an 8-week program of either mindfulness-based cognitive therapy or the health enhancement program
Follow-up
Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment
What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?
Interventions
- Health Enhancement Program
- Quiet Focus
Trial Overview
The Quiet Focus Study is testing whether a version of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy tailored for older Black adults can improve their quality of life more effectively than a traditional health enhancement program when dealing with chronic pain and depression.
How Is the Trial Designed?
2
Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Active Control
Find a Clinic Near You
Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?
Massachusetts General Hospital
Lead Sponsor
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)
Collaborator
Citations
Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy vs the Health ...
The Pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (PSEQ) measures confidence in engaging in activities despite chronic pain. Higher scores indicate greater confidence (6 = ...
Chronic Pain-Induced Depression: A Review of Prevalence ...
The results showed that the prevalence of depression in chronic pain patients was 49.1%, which was also the psychiatric disorder most commonly ...
Cognitive and emotional control of pain and its disruption in ...
More than 30 studies have now examined conditioned pain modulation in patients with chronic pain, with varying paradigms and mixed results. Nevertheless, a ...
Follow-up outcomes of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive ...
Results indicate that the clinical benefits of MBCT for chronically, treatment-resistant depressed patients persist up to 6 months after completing MBCT.
Effectiveness of app-based relaxation for patients with chronic ...
The aim of these two pragmatic randomized studies is to evaluate whether an additional app-delivered relaxation is more effective in the reduction of chronic ...
Feasibility and Acceptability of an Abbreviated, Four-Week ...
In adults with chronic pain, a four-week mindfulness program is feasible and acceptable, addresses the barrier of a lengthy program, and may ...
Living successfully with chronic pain: Identifying the pivotal ...
We carried out 25 individual interviews with persons who considered they had been living well with their pain for a minimum of 6 months. Data were analyzed ...
Who Benefits the Most From Different Psychological ...
This study aimed to identify variables that moderate treatment response to 4 psychological pain interventions in a sample of adults with low back pain or ...
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