Mantra Meditation for Pain Conditions: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

A systematic review and meta-analysis of seven controlled clinical trials (374 participants) found that mantra meditation, compared to control conditions, significantly improved mental quality of life and reduced negative mood states in people with acute or chronic pain. No significant effects were observed for pain intensity, physical quality of life, depression symptoms, anxiety, stress, psychological well-being, or sleep. A subgroup analysis suggested that depression symptoms improved significantly more in participants with chronic pain than in those with acute pain. The authors conclude that mantra meditation may be a useful adjuvant intervention within interdisciplinary pain management, but higher-quality randomized controlled trials are needed.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Abstract Background: Pain is biopsychosocial in nature, and international guidelines now emphasize interdisciplinary treatment. Psychotherapeutic interventions such as Mantra Meditation (MM) are being increasingly studied for their potential benefits in pain management. Objectives: To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of the evidence for MM in improving biopsychosocial outcomes in acute and chronic pain conditions. Methods: A systematic search of Medline, PsycINFO, CINAHL, CENTRAL, EMBASE, and Scopus identified controlled clinical trials of MM for acute and chronic pain, with no date limits. Data were synthesized using an inverse-variance random-effects meta-analysis of continuous outcomes with pre-calculated effect sizes (Hedge’s g). Results: Seven studies (n = 374) met inclusion criteria, with low to moderate methodological quality. Meta-analyses showed significant effects of MM versus controls for improving mental quality of life (QoL) and reducing negative mood states. No significant effects were found for pain, physical QoL, depression symptoms, anxiety, stress, psychological well-being, or sleep. However, subgroup analysis indicated significant improvement in depression symptoms for participants with chronic pain compared with acute pain. Conclusion: Further high-quality randomized controlled trials are required to determine the efficacy of MM in pain management. Current evidence suggests MM may improve selected psychological outcomes, including mental QoL, negative mood states, and depression in chronic pain. These findings indicate that MM has potential as an adjuvant intervention within holistic, interdisciplinary approaches to pain management.