Development and effectiveness of a mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for individuals with spinal cord injury: Changes in quality of life and inflammatory biomarkers
Chan-Woo Yeom, Onyoo Kim, Jeong-A. Yu, Seungyeon Lee, Jaehyun Kim, Sun Hyung Lee, Joon Sung Shin, Saim Jung, Won-Hyoung Kim, Eun-Jeong Joo, Bong-Jin Hahm
Figshare June 4, 2026 preprint DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.32579022.v1 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Non-randomized controlled trial Pilot study |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 51 |
| Population | Adult inpatients with spinal cord injury at a national rehabilitation hospital in the Republic of Korea |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) |
| Duration | 4-week intervention, with assessments at baseline, post-intervention, and 4-week follow-up |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Psychological intervention Randomized controlled trial Rehabilitation Depression economics Clinical trial Spinal cord injury Physical therapy Cognition Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy Biomarker Cognitive behavioral therapy |
| Key findings | Tailored MBCT did not significantly improve overall quality of life or spiritual well-being in SCI patients, but showed significant benefits for those with normal-to-mild baseline depression and improved inflammatory biomarkers (increased IL-10, decreased sTNFR2 and CRP). |
Abstract
spinal cord injury (SCI) reduces quality of life and causes chronic inflammation. Mindfulness-based interventions may improve these symptoms. However, few studies have examined the benefits of mindfulness-based interventions in individuals with SCI. This study evaluated a tailored Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) program. We conducted a non-randomized controlled trial at a national rehabilitation hospital in the Republic of Korea, involving 51 adult inpatients with SCI who were assigned to either the MBCT (n = 26) or treatment-as-usual (TAU) (n = 25) group. The 4-week MBCT program included 12 sessions emphasizing breathing – and auditory-based practices while excluding yoga and walking meditations. Additional components addressed illness acceptance and pain coping. Primary outcomes were quality of life and spiritual well-being. Secondary outcomes included inflammatory biomarkers. Assessments were conducted at baseline (T0), post-intervention (T1), and four weeks later (T2). Linear mixed-effects models were estimated. No significant group-by-time interaction was observed with the FACT-G or FACIT-Sp-12 overall. However, the FACIT-Sp-12 showed a significant group effect. Among participants with normal-to-mild baseline depression, significant group-by-time and group-by-baseline depression interactions were observed. Biomarker analyses revealed increased IL-10, decreased sTNFR2, and lower CRP levels in the MBCT group. Tailored MBCT may enhance spiritual well-being and inflammatory profiles in patients with SCI, particularly in those with lower baseline depression. However, further randomized trials are warranted for greater robustness. Trial Registration: Not applicable (non-randomized pilot study).
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 |