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 10 randomized controlled trials with 643 participants found that adjunctive meditation interventions—mindfulness-based stress reduction, yoga, and the mantram repetition program—improve PTSD and depression symptoms compared with control groups, based on low and moderate quality of evidence. Effects on quality of life and anxiety were positive but not statistically significant; no studies addressed functional status. No adverse events were reported, though only half of the studies reported on safety. The variety of meditation types, short follow-up times, and study quality limited analyses. More high-quality research with larger samples is needed to increase confidence in these findings.