Impact of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy on Trajectory of Mood States in Patients with Chronic Pain: A Retrospective Observational Study of Within-Session Evaluations
Journal of Clinical Medicine February 28, 2026 Chisato Tanaka, Yuta Shinohara, Saki Takaoka et al.
In a group of 33 adults with chronic pain who took part in an 8-week Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) program, mood improved markedly both during individual sessions and across the entire program. Vigor increased, while depression, tension-anxiety, and confusion decreased. Participants who started with higher tension-anxiety showed the greatest gains in anger, depression, tension, and confusion. The findings suggest that MBCT can enhance emotional well-being in chronic pain patients, especially those with elevated anxiety.