Addressing chronic pain and suicide risk using Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy: Rationale, design and baseline characteristics.
Contemporary Clinical Trials November 1, 2025 Lisham Ashrafioun, Anna Stephens, Hugh F Crean et al.
A randomized clinical trial is testing Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Pain and Suicide (MBCT-P/S) in 76 veterans who reported suicidal ideation and chronic pain. The therapy combines elements from two established programs, MBCT-Pain and MBCT-Suicide. Recruitment was completed faster than expected, supporting feasibility. Baseline data showed a diverse sample with clinically severe profiles differing by condition on key suicide risk variables. The trial will assess feasibility, treatment acceptability, and outcomes at 1, 3, and 6 months, including pain, suicide risk, retention, and therapist fidelity. Results will inform a future fully-powered efficacy trial.