Case Report: Zen meditation-integrated CBT normalized the impaired brain function of a chronic low back pain patient—from the findings of brain blood flow SPECT imaging
F1000Research November 25, 2022 T. Honda
A 45-year-old man with chronic low back pain after a vehicular accident, who had insufficient improvement from drug treatment, underwent a 3-month outpatient program combining mindfulness meditation (Zen breath counting and mantra), cognitive behavioral therapy, and multidisciplinary interventions. After treatment, the patient reported a decrease in subjective pain. Brain SPECT imaging showed improved excess blood flow from the right temporoparietal junction to the inferior parietal lobe. The authors suggest that Zen meditation is an effective intervention for chronic pain and that SPECT can measure its effectiveness.