A systematic review of randomized controlled trials found that mindfulness meditation interventions, used alone or alongside other treatments, may reduce chronic pain in adults. The evidence suggests modest improvements in pain severity and physical function compared to usual care or no treatment, though the certainty of the evidence is limited by small sample sizes and variability across studies. No serious safety concerns were reported. The review highlights the need for larger, more rigorous trials to confirm these findings and better understand which patients benefit most.
A systematic review and meta-analysis of 38 randomized controlled trials found low-quality evidence that mindfulness meditation is associated with a small decrease in pain compared with various control conditions in adults with chronic pain. Statistically significant improvements were also seen for depression symptoms and quality of life. Only seven of the included trials reported on safety. The authors conclude that while mindfulness meditation improves pain, depression, and quality of life, additional well-designed, large-scale trials are needed to provide more definitive estimates of its efficacy.