Background: Chronic pain is a common condition in the general population, causing great suffering in both physical and mental aspects. Previous research shows that mindfulness based interventions help chronic pain patients to cope better with their pain, and improve their quality of life. Although evidence support the efficacy of mindfulness based interventions for chronic pain, it is still unclear whether this efficacy involves a direct influence on sensory aspects of pain perception. Further more, the mechanisms of change responsible for the improved life quality and the possible moderating factors that may influence treatment efficacy, are still unknown. Aim: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of mindfulness based intervention on pain perception and quality of life in individuals suffering from chronic pain. The investigators will also evaluate potential mechanisms responsible for the change following mindfulness practice. Finally the investigators will examine the role of personal characteristics as potential moderating factors of mindfulness effect. Hypothesis: The investigators hypothesize that 1) compared to a waitlist control group, chronic pain patients participating in a full mindfulness based program will report greater improvements in a) pain severity, b) quality of life and psychological symptoms, and c) will demonstrate changes in physiological characteristics of pain. 2) Changes following the mindfulness based program will be mediated by change in pain catastrophizing, self regulation capacity and pain acceptance. 3) The investigators hypothesize that gender, baseline mindfulness, and anxiety sensitivity will moderate the efficacy of the mindfulness based program. Method: A randomized controlled design will be used to evaluate the efficacy of mindfulness based intervention on pain perception and quality of life in individuals suffering from chronic recurrent low back pain and osteoarthritis. Participants will be randomized to a mindfulness based treatment group, or to a waitlist control group, and will be assessed for psychological variables and psychophysical pain assessment before treatment. Participants allocated to treatment group will then attend six group meetings in which they will learn and practice different mindfulness meditation techniques, and will be asked to practice these techniques on a daily basis. Post treatment assessments will take place at the end of the intervention for both treatment and control groups.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
67
The Mindfulness Program consists of one 2-hour session each week for 6 consecutive weeks plus a half day retreat near the end of the intervention. Participants will attend weekly group meetings (15-20 individuals per group) in which they will be guided through a progressive experiential exploration of mindfulness. Participants will be asked to develop a daily meditation practice of 30-45 minutes with audio-recordings for guidance, and will report the amount and type of practice in a daily dairy. . A psychologist with rich personal experience in mindfulness who is trained in mindfulness based therapy will be responsible for administering the program.
Clalit Health Service
Beersheba, Israel
change in Brief Pain Inventory Short Form questionnaire (BPI-sf)
measures and characterize pain and the interference of pain with the patient's life (reactive dimension). The BPI questionnaire includes a 0-10 rating scale to measure the pain and the influence of pain on different aspects of daily life (general activity, mood, sleep, relationship with other people, work) that constitute the life impact index
Time frame: Administration will take place upon entry into the study, after 4 weeks of participating in the program, and at the completion of the 6-weeks programs. Follow up of psychological measures will be held 3 months after completing the program by telephone.
Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI)
53 items and provides nine sub-scale scores measuring a range of psychological symptoms and somatic complaints. Participants rate on a scale of 0 ('not at all') to 4 ('extremely') how much they were bothered in the last 7 days by each of 18 symptoms, including separate scores for anxiety, depression, somatization, and a global symptom severity index
Time frame: upon entry into the study, after 4 weeks of participating in the program, and at the completion of the 6-weeks programs. Follow up of psychological measures will be held 3 months after completing the program by telephone.
SF-12 Quality of life
The Short-Form General Health Survey is a shorter form of the widely used SF-36 and assesses health-related quality of life. It consists of 12 items that allow the calculation of 'physical health' (PCS-12) and 'mental health' (MCS-12) summary scales.
Time frame: upon entry into the study, after 4 weeks of participating in the program, and at the completion of the 6-weeks programs. Follow up of psychological measures will be held 3 months after completing the program by telephone.
Psychophysical measures
Using the The Thermal Sensory Analyzer we will measure Heat/ Cold pain threshold (HPT/CPT)and Supra threshold pain.
Time frame: at the entry into the study, and after 6 weeks
The Pain Catastrophizing Scale
Sullivan, Bishop, \& Pivik, 1995) This questionnaire includes 13 items representing the three components of pain catastrophizing: rumination (e.g., "I can't seem to keep it out of my mind"); magnification (e.g., "I wonder whether something serious may happen"); and helplessness (e.g., "There is nothing I can do to reduce the intensity of pain").
Time frame: upon entry into the study, after 4 weeks of participating in the program, and at the completion of the 6-weeks programs. Follow up of psychological measures will be held 3 months after completing the program by telephone.
Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS)
consists of 36 self-report items which comprise six subscales that investigate individuals' complaints about emotional regulation problems. The scales are: Non-acceptance of Emotional Response, Difficulties engaging in Goal-Directed Behavior, Impulse Control Difficulties, Lack of Emotional Awareness, limited access to Emotion Regulation Strategies and Lack of Emotional Clarity. Respondents are asked to rate their self-perceptions regarding each item on a 5-point Likert scale, which ranges from "almost never" to "almost always."
Time frame: upon entry into the study, after 4 weeks of participating in the program, and at the completion of the 6-weeks programs. Follow up of psychological measures will be held 3 months after completing the program by telephone.
The Chronic Pain Acceptance Questionnaire (CPAQ)
a 20-item, two factor (Activity Engagement and Pain Willingness) questionnaire, adapted through the process of factor analysis from the original, longer version (Geiser, 1992).
Time frame: upon entry into the study, after 4 weeks of participating in the program, and at the completion of the 6-weeks programs. Follow up of psychological measures will be held 3 months after completing the program by telephone.
Anxiety Sensitivity Index (ASI)
a 16-item measure on which respondents indicate, on a 5-point Likert-type scale (0=very little to 4=very much), the degree to which they fear the potential negative consequences of anxiety-related symptoms and sensations. The ASI is made up of one higher-order factor (ASI total score) and three lower-order factors: Physical, Psychological, and Social Concerns
Time frame: at the entry into the study, and after 6 weeks
Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS)
a 15 item measure of mindfulness. The item content was design to reflect the opposite of the construct of mindfulness, or: "mindlessness" and thus endorsing the item content at a lower frequency is taken to represent a higher level of mindfulness.
Time frame: at the entry into the study, and after 6 weeks
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