A Multi-Site, Randomized, Parallel-Group, Controlled Trial of Virtually-Delivered Sahaj Samadhi Meditation for the Management of Moderate Depressive Symptoms in Chronic Pain.
Darren K. Cheng, Robert Simpson, Rahim Moineddin, Joel Katz, Benoit H. Mulsant, Akshya Vasudev, Michelle Greiver, Fardous Hosseiny, Marco Inzitari, Ronnie I. Newman, Leon Rivlin, Kirk D Foat, Andrea D Furlan, John Francis Flannery, Deanna Telner, Rachael L Bosma, Michelle Naimer, Chadwick Chung, Andrew D Pinto, Michelle L A Nelson, Ross E G Upshur, Abhimanyu Sud
Journal of Pain Research 2025 DOI: 10.2147/JPR.S515229 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 89 |
| Population | People with chronic pain and moderate depressive symptoms |
| Interventions | Sahaj Samadhi Meditation Health Enhancement Program |
| Duration | 12-week intervention, 24-week follow-up |
| Topics | Depression Meditation |
| Keywords | Chronic pain Clinical trial Mind-body therapies Meditation meditation Virtual meditation program Mind-body therapy Depressive symptoms |
| Registration | NCT04039568 |
| Key findings | Sahaj Samadhi Meditation did not significantly reduce depressive symptoms compared to an active control, but showed significant within-group improvements exceeding the minimal clinically important difference. |
Abstract
Chronic pain (CP) often co-occurs with depression, but promising scalable interventions have been under-investigated. We assessed the effectiveness of the virtually-delivered Sahaj Samadhi Meditation (SSM) program in reducing depressive symptoms in people with CP and moderate depressive symptoms. We conducted a randomized controlled trial comparing SSM to the Health Enhancement Program (HEP), an active control. Participants were recruited from multiple sites in the Greater Toronto Area and virtually. Both 12-week programs were delivered virtually in groups by appropriately trained facilitators. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) at baseline, 12 weeks, and 24 weeks. ClinicalTrials.gov registration number: NCT04039568. Of 108 participants enrolled, 89 were randomized to SSM (n=43) or HEP (n=46). Between-group differences for the PHQ-9 were not significant. Within-group mean differences for SSM were significant and greater than the minimal clinically important difference at both 12 weeks and 24 weeks (-3.97 (95% CI -6.69 to -1.24) and -4.96 (-8.36 to -1.56), respectively), while within-group mean differences were not significant for HEP. This study suggests potential benefits of SSM for individuals with comorbid CP and depression. Future trials should include larger sample sizes in non-pandemic conditions to better evaluate the effectiveness of SSM. Further research should also explore pragmatic trial designs and the integration of mind-body interventions in clinical settings.
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 |
Citations in the library
Cites 8
- No sustained attention differences in a longitudinal randomized trial comparing mindfulness based stress reduction versus active control. PLoS One 2014
- Mindfulness-based interventions for people with multiple sclerosis: a systematic review and meta-aggregation of qualitative research studies Disability and Rehabilitation September 9, 2021
- Sahaj Samadhi Meditation versus a Health Enhancement Program for depression in chronic pain: protocol for a randomized controlled trial and implementation evaluation Trials January 8, 2020
- Comparative evaluation of group-based mindfulness-based stress reduction and cognitive behavioural therapy for the treatment and management of chronic pain: A systematic review and network meta-analysis Evidence-Based Mental Health January 23, 2019
- Gender Differences in Prevalence, Patterns, Purposes, and Perceived Benefits of Meditation Practices in the United States. Journal of Women's Health December 13, 2018
and 3 more in the library