Patient Outcomes Improve in a Pragmatic Implementation Pilot Study of Mindful Awareness in Body-Oriented Therapy (MABT) for Chronic Pain.
Cynthia J Price, Dana Dharmakaya Colgan, Erin Abu-Rish Blakeney, Jacquelyn S Pennings, Claudia Davidson, Kathryn A Hansen
Global Advances in Integrative Medicine and Health 2025 DOI: 10.1177/27536130251331029 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Pilot study with one-group repeated measures Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 41 |
| Population | Chronic pain patients |
| Intervention | Mindful Awareness in Body-oriented Therapy (MABT) |
| Duration | 8-week intervention, 6-month follow-up |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Chronic pain Integrative medicine Interoception Intervention Massage Pragmatic trial |
| Key points | MABT referral and delivery follow-through was feasible, and participants showed significant improvements in physical and mental health outcomes, interoceptive awareness, and emotion regulation. |
Abstract
Non-pharmacologic approaches are now considered best practice for the treatment of chronic pain. The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate patient responses to a newly integrated clinic service called Mindful Awareness in Body-oriented Therapy (MABT) at a chronic pain clinic. MABT is designed to develop interoceptive sensibility for improved well-being and emotion regulation. A one-group repeated measures design was used to examine MABT referral and delivery follow-through feasibility and change on health outcomes among chronic pain patients. Upon referral, participants were scheduled for the MABT program involving eight individual sessions with one of the clinic massage therapists trained in MABT. Measures were administered at baseline, post-intervention (3 months) and at 6 month follow-up). Outcome measures assessed physical and mental health distress, interoceptive awareness, and emotional well-being. Analyses included descriptive statistics and repeated measures ANOVA. Seventy patients were referred and 41 received at least one MABT session. Thirty patients (73%) completed the MABT intervention. Statistically and/or clinically significant improvements were identified for most subscales of the PROMIS-29 (the primary outcome), including Physical Function, Fatigue, Anxiety, Sleep Disturbance, Social Roles, and Pain Interference. Improvements in interoceptive sensibility and emotion regulation difficulties also demonstrated statistically significant and large effects. This pilot study demonstrates the feasibility of MABT referral and delivery follow-through when delivered in a real-life context. Significant improvements with large effects on outcomes in response to the MABT intervention program offers a promising non-pharmacological approach for chronic pain patients.
Comparable studies
Other non-randomized and open-label trials on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction in Relation to Quality of Life, Mood, Symptoms of Stress, and Immune Parameters in Breast and Prostate Cancer Outpatients Early-stage breast and prostate cancer patients | 2003 | Pre-post intervention study | n = 59 |
| Exploring self‐compassion and empathy in the context of mindfulness‐based stress reduction (MBSR) Community sample | 2010 | Pre-post intervention study | |
| Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Lowers Psychological Distress In Medical Students Second-year medical students | 2003 | Prospective nonrandomized cohort-controlled study | n = 302 |
| Intensive meditation training, immune cell telomerase activity, and psychological mediators. Retreat participants and matched controls | 2011 | Controlled trial with wait-list control group | n = 60 |
| The Effectiveness of Mindfulness Training for Children with ADHD and Mindful Parenting for their Parents Children aged 8-12 with ADHD and their parents | 2011 | Within-group waitlist controlled trial | n = 22 |
Citations in the library
Cites 7
- Effects of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy on Body Awareness in Patients with Chronic Pain and Comorbid Depression Frontiers in Psychology June 30, 2016
- Immediate Effects of Mindful Awareness in Body-Oriented Therapy as an Adjunct to Medication for Opioid Use Disorder. Mindfulness November 1, 2024
- Within-Person Modulation of Neural Networks following Interoceptive Awareness Training through Mindful Awareness in Body-Oriented Therapy (MABT): A Pilot Study. Brain Sciences September 30, 2023
- Interoceptive Awareness Skills for Emotion Regulation: Theory and Approach of Mindful Awareness in Body-Oriented Therapy (MABT). Frontiers in Psychology 2018
- A Mind-Body Program for Older Adults With Chronic Low Back Pain: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Internal Medicine March 1, 2016
and 2 more in the library