Does mindfulness meditation improve chronic pain? A systematic review
Current Opinion in Obstetrics & Gynecology December 1, 2017 Elizabeth F. Ball, Emira Nur Shafina Muhammad Sharizan, Genny Franklin et al.
A systematic review of 13 randomized controlled trials found that mindfulness meditation significantly reduced depression in people with chronic pain (standardized mean difference −0.28). There were trends toward benefit for affective pain, sensory pain, and anxiety, though these were not statistically significant. Mental health, physical health, and overall quality of life improved with mindfulness meditation. The most prominent effects of mindfulness meditation were on the psychological aspects of living with chronic pain, improving associated depression and quality of life.