An integrated mindfulness meditation and acceptance and commitment therapy intervention for chronic pain: Rationale, design, and methodology of a pilot randomized controlled trial of Acting with Mindfulness for Pain (AMP).
Matthew S Herbert, Mara Tynan, Ariel J Lang, Autumn Backhaus, Pollyanna Casmar, Shahrokh Golshan, Niloofar Afari
Contemporary Clinical Trials August 1, 2022 DOI: 10.1016/j.cct.2022.106809 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial (pilot) Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 86 |
| Population | Veterans with chronic pain |
| Interventions | Acting with Mindfulness for Pain (AMP) Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Chronic pain |
| Key findings | Proposes that integrating formal mindfulness meditation into ACT will produce larger treatment effects on function than CBT among individuals with chronic pain. |
Abstract
Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is an evidence-based psychosocial intervention for chronic pain; however, in its present form ACT produces modest improvements in function and is no more effective than cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), the current gold standard. This protocol paper describes the Acting with Mindfulness for Pain (AMP) protocol, which emphasizes and integrates formal mindfulness meditation practice within an ACT-based approach. This paper presents the rationale, design and methodology of an ongoing pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) comparing AMP to CBT among Veterans with chronic pain (N = 86). Specifically, we argue that formal meditation practice is a necessary treatment component that directly targets key ACT processes which will help facilitate large treatment effects on function (e.g., general activity, social relationships, life enjoyment) among individuals with chronic pain. This study will be the first to consider formal mindfulness meditation practice as a principal treatment ingredient in the context of ACT for chronic pain. The purpose of this trial is to evaluate the feasibility of recruitment and collection of measures, and to examine preliminary treatment effects to determine the appropriateness of a subsequent full-scale RCT. This study will also explore within and between group change on primary and secondary outcomes including pain interference, pain acceptance, trait mindfulness, pain catastrophizing, values-based living, quality of life, practice adherence, and objective measures of physical activity. This study will help delineate the role of formal mindfulness practice within an ACT-based approach for chronic pain and provide preliminary data for a future fully powered RCT.
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
Cited by 4
- The effectiveness and applicability of mindfulness intervention in psychological adaptation after sports injury: a systematic review. Australian Journal of Psychology 2024
- ACTing with Mindfulness for Pain (AMP): A pilot randomized controlled trial of an integrated acceptance and commitment therapy and mindfulness meditation program. Behaviour Research and Therapy September 1, 2025
- Predicting Treatment Plan Adherence Based on Mindfulness and Self-efficacy Beliefs in Patients with Chronic Pain Thrita May 12, 2024
- Mindfulness for people with chronic pain: Factors affecting engagement and suggestions for programme optimisation Health Expectations March 12, 2023
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