Does mindfulness meditation improve chronic pain? A systematic review.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to evaluate the effects of mindfulness meditation on chronic pain, focusing on psychological factors and quality of life.
Results Summary
Mindfulness meditation significantly reduced depression and showed trends toward improving affective pain, sensory pain, and anxiety. It also improved quality of life measures, particularly mental health and overall scores.
Population
Individuals with chronic pain.
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mindfulness meditation | decrease | depression | chronic pain | Standardised mean difference (SMD) -0.28; 95% confidence interval (CI) -0.53, -0.03; P = 0.03; I = 0% | significantly reduced | #1 |
Mindfulness meditation | decrease | affective pain | chronic pain | SMD -0.13; 95% CI -0.42, 0.16; I = 0% | a trend towards benefit | #2 |
Mindfulness meditation | decrease | sensory pain | chronic pain | SMD -0.02; 95% CI -0.31, 0.27; I = 0% | a trend towards benefit | #3 |
Mindfulness meditation | decrease | anxiety | chronic pain | SMD -0.16; 95% CI -0.47, 0.15; I = 0% | a trend towards benefit | #4 |
Mindfulness meditation | increase | Quality of life items on mental health | chronic pain | SMD 0.65; 95% CI -0.27, 1.58; I = 69% | improved | #5 |
Mindfulness meditation | increase | Quality of life items on physical health | chronic pain | SMD 0.08; 95% CI -0.40, 0.56; I = 32% | improved | #6 |
Mindfulness meditation | increase | Quality of life overall score | chronic pain | SMD 0.86, 95% CI -0.06, 1.78; I = 88% | improved | #7 |
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Psychological factors are associated with chronic pain. Mindfulness meditation may ameliorate symptoms. The objective was to evaluate the effects of mindfulness meditation in chronic pain. RECENT FINDINGS: A systematic search of four databases identified 534 citations; 13 Randomised controlled trials satisfied the inclusion criteria. Mindfulness meditation significantly reduced depression [Standardised mean difference (SMD) -0.28; 95% confidence interval (CI) -0.53, -0.03; P = 0.03; I = 0%]. For affective pain (SMD -0.13; 95% CI -0.42, 0.16; I = 0%), sensory pain (SMD -0.02; 95% CI -0.31, 0.27; I = 0%) and anxiety (SMD -0.16; 95% CI -0.47, 0.15; I = 0%) there was a trend towards benefit with intervention. Quality of life items on mental health (SMD 0.65; 95% CI -0.27, 1.58; I = 69%), physical health (SMD 0.08; 95% CI -0.40, 0.56; I = 32%) and overall score (SMD 0.86, 95% CI -0.06, 1.78; I = 88%) improved with mindfulness meditation. SUMMARY: Mindfulness meditation has most prominent effect on psychological aspects on living with chronic pain, improving associated depression and quality of life.