Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) for fibromyalgia patients: The role of pain cognitions as mechanisms of change.
Renen Taub, Nancy Agmon-Levin, Lee Frumer, Inbal Samuel-Magal, Ittai Glick, Danny Horesh
Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice August 1, 2024 DOI: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2024.101860 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 95 |
| Population | Fibromyalgia patients |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) |
| Duration | 8-week intervention, 6-month follow-up |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Fibromyalgia Pain cognitions Psychotherapy Rct Rheumatology |
| Citations | 7 |
| Registration | NCT04304664 |
| Key findings | MBSR led to greater improvements in fibromyalgia symptoms, perceived stress, and depression compared to a waitlist control, with changes in pain cognitions mediating these effects. |
Abstract
Fibromyalgia (FM) is a pain condition characterized by physical and psychological difficulties. This randomized controlled trial aimed to evaluate the effects of a mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) on FM patients and identify the role of two pain cognitions: psychological inflexibility in pain (PIPS) and pain catastrophizing (PCS), as mechanisms of change. 95 FM patients (Mean ± SD: 49.18 ± 13.26 years) were randomly assigned to MBSR group therapy (n = 49) or a waitlist (WL) control group (n = 46). An adapted MBSR protocol for FM was employed. A series of measures were taken, covering FM symptoms, depression, perceived stress (PSS), PIPS and PCS. Three measurements were conducted: pre-intervention, post-intervention and 6-months follow up. Compared to WL controls, the MBSR group showed greater improvements in FM symptoms (F(1,78) = 2.81, p < 0.05), PSS (F(1,78) = 4.38, p < 0.05) and Depression (F(1,78) = 21.12, p < 0.001), with mostly medium effect sizes. Improvements in PSS (F(2,68) = 7.75, p < 0.05) and depression (F(2,68) = 15.68, p < 0.05) remained stable over six months. The effect of MBSR on FM and PSS was mediated by one's reported change in PIPS. The effect of MBSR on depression was mediated by one's reported change in PCS. These results reveal the significant therapeutic potential of MBSR for FM patients, due to the emphasis on non-judging and acceptance of negative inner states. Furthermore, this research identified two important pain-related cognitions as mechanisms of change, suggesting that MBSR contributes to cognitive change, which enables the reduction of physical and psychological distress. NCT04304664.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alterations in Brain and Immune Function Produced by Mindfulness Meditation Healthy employees in a work environment | 2003 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 41 |
| Prevention of relapse/recurrence in major depression by mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2000 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 145 |
| Open hearts build lives: Positive emotions, induced through loving-kindness meditation, build consequential personal resources. Working adults | 2008 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 139 |
| Short-term meditation training improves attention and self-regulation Undergraduate Chinese students | 2007 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 40 |
| Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression: Replication and Exploration of Differential Relapse Prevention Effects. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2004 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 73 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 2
- Recalibrating Pain–Mood Coupling in Fibromyalgia: A Hypothesis-Generating Multisystem Neurobehavioral Framework for Mindfulness-Based Interventions Anesthesia Research September 13, 2026
- Do Acceptance‐ and Mindfulness‐Based Interventions Improve Psychological Flexibility in People With Chronic Pain? A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials European Journal of Pain August 1, 2026
Cites 12
- What Do We Really Know About Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction? Psychosomatic Medicine 2002
- Mindfulness meditation alleviates depressive symptoms in women with fibromyalgia: Results of a randomized clinical trial Arthritis Care & Research January 31, 2007
- Research in Mindfulness Interventions for Patients With Fibromyalgia: A Critical Review. Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience July 28, 2022
- The Effects of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction on Negative Self-Representations in Social Anxiety Disorder—A Randomized Wait-List Controlled Trial Frontiers in Psychiatry May 12, 2021
- Feasibility and Acceptability of an Abbreviated, Four-Week Mindfulness Program for Chronic Pain Management. Pain Medicine September 8, 2020
and 7 more in the library