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Loving-kindness meditation for chronic low back pain: results from a pilot trial.

James W Carson, Francis J Keefe, Thomas R Lynch, Kimberly M. Carson, Veeraindar Goli, Anne Marie Fras, Steven R Thorp

Journal of Holistic Nursing September 1, 2005 DOI: 10.1177/0898010105277651 (opens in new tab)

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AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Randomized controlled trial Pilot study Peer reviewed
Sample size 43
Population Patients with chronic low back pain
Duration 8-week intervention, follow-up period not specified
Topics Meditation
Key findings An 8-week loving-kindness meditation program reduced pain, anger, and psychological distress in patients with chronic low back pain.

Abstract

Loving-kindness meditation has been used for centuries in the Buddhist tradition to develop love and transform anger into compassion. This pilot study tested an 8-week loving-kindness program for chronic low back pain patients. Patients (N = 43) were randomly assigned to the intervention or standard care. Standardized measures assessed patients' pain, anger, and psychological distress. Post and follow-up analyses showed significant improvements in pain and psychological distress in the loving-kindness group, but no changes in the usual care group. Multilevel analyses of daily data showed that more loving-kindness practice on a given day was related to lower pain that day and lower anger the next day. Preliminary results suggest that the loving-kindness program can be beneficial in reducing pain, anger, and psychological distress in patients with persistent low back pain. Clinicians may find loving-kindness meditation helpful in the treatment of patients with persistent pain.

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

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