The Effects of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction on Attention and Pain-related Symptoms in Chronic Pain Patients

York University49 enrolled

Overview

The main purpose of this study is to determine the degree to which Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, a group-based psychological therapy that includes mindfulness meditation exercises, reduces depression, anxiety, stress, pain intensity, and interference of pain with daily life among adult chronic pain patients. The second purpose is to examine the role of attention in improving psychological and physical health for chronic pain patients.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Enrollment

Conditions

Pain

Interventions

Mindfulness-Based Stress ReductionBEHAVIORAL

An 8-week structured group program that was developed to improve psychological and physical symptoms associated with pain. It incorporates a variety of mindfulness meditation exercises including mindful yoga, sitting meditation, and body scan to facilitate attention, acceptance, and awareness of one's experiences.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsMax age: 80 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Adult chronic pain patients who are proficient in English * Capable of interacting with others in a group setting * Capable of working with a computer Exclusion Criteria: * Alcohol or drug abuse (past history is acceptable as long as their situation has been stable for at least 3 months) * Psychiatric psychosis (patients who have a past history of schizophrenia are eligible as long as they are currently stable) * Current major depressive disorder * Current severe social phobia * At immediate risk for suicide * Cerebral lesions or tumors (unless medically and cognitively stable) * Neurological disease * Medically unstable * Cognitively unstable * Previously participated in a mindfulness meditation program

Locations (1)

Mount Sinai Hospital

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Pain disability and Attention

Change in pain disability assessed by the Pain Disability Index (PDI). Change in attention assessed by an adapted version of the Change Blindness Task