Skip to content

Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement vs Supportive Group Therapy for Co-occurring Opioid Misuse and Chronic Pain in Primary Care

E. Garland, Adam W. Hanley, Yoshio Nakamura, John W. Barrett, A. Baker, Sarah E. Reese, Michael R. Riquino, Brett Froeliger, Gary W Donaldson

JAMA Internal Medicine February 28, 2022 DOI: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2022.0033 (opens in new tab)

Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Randomized clinical trial Peer reviewed
Sample size 250
Population Adults with chronic pain and opioid misuse
Interventions Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement supportive group psychotherapy
Duration 9-month follow-up
Topics Meditation
Key findings MORE reduced opioid misuse more than supportive psychotherapy, with 45.0% versus 24.4% no longer misusing opioids after 9 months.

Abstract

Key Points Question Does a mindfulness-based intervention reduce comorbid chronic pain and opioid misuse in the primary care setting more than supportive psychotherapy? Findings In this randomized clinical trial that included 250 adults with both chronic pain and opioid misuse, 45.0% of participants receiving Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement (MORE) were no longer misusing opioids after 9 months of follow-up compared with 24.4% of participants receiving supportive group psychotherapy. Participants receiving MORE also reported significant improvements in chronic pain symptoms compared with those receiving supportive psychotherapy. Meaning In this study, MORE appeared to be an efficacious treatment for opioid misuse among adults with chronic pain.