THE EFFICACY OF MINDFULNESS MEDITATION IN REDUCING CHRONIC PAIN: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
Okechukwu Chidoluo Vitus
Mental Health and Psychological Wellness January 4, 2025 DOI: 10.64347/3066-3032/mhpw.006 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Systematic review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Intervention | Mindfulness meditation |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | Mindfulness meditation promotes significant pain relief and enhances quality of life as a complementary intervention for chronic pain management. |
Abstract
Chronic pain affects millions worldwide, creating a substantial burden on individuals and healthcare systems alike. This systematic review investigates the efficacy of mindfulness meditation as a complementary intervention for chronic pain management. By synthesizing findings from various studies, the review explores how mindfulness meditation contributes to pain reduction, the mechanisms behind its effects, and its applicability in clinical settings. While mindfulness meditation is shown to promote significant pain relief and enhance quality of life, limitations and potential disadvantages necessitate further exploration. This paper aims to provide recommendations for practitioners and suggest future research directions to bolster the understanding of mindfulness in chronic pain management.
Comparable studies
Other systematic reviews and meta-analyses on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meditation Programs for Psychological Stress and Well-being Diverse adult clinical populations | 2014 | Meta-analysis | n = 3,515 |
| Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Stress Management in Healthy People: A Review and Meta-Analysis Healthy subjects | 2009 | Systematic review and meta-analysis | |
| The psychological effects of meditation: A meta-analysis. Nonclinical groups of adult meditators | 2012 | Meta-analysis | n = 163 |
| Efficacy of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy in Prevention of Depressive Relapse Adults with recurrent depression in full or partial remission | 2016 | Meta-analysis of individual patient data from randomized controlled trials | n = 1,258 |
| Mindfulness‐Based Stress Reduction and Mindfulness‐Based Cognitive Therapy – a systematic review of randomized controlled trials | 2011 | Systematic review |