Mindfulness-Based Intervention effect on the psychophysiological marker of self-regulation in women with endometriosis-related chronic pain.
Marcelo de França Moreira, O. Gamboa, M. A. Oliveira
Journal of Pain July 1, 2023 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpain.2023.07.026 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Pilot randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 54 |
| Population | Women with endometriosis-related pain |
| Intervention | brief Mindfulness-Based Intervention (bMBI) |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | A brief Mindfulness-Based Intervention significantly improved attention (Flanker accuracy and reaction time, Stroop reaction time) and vagally-mediated heart rate variability at rest and recovery in women with endometriosis-related pain, with attention mediating the intervention's effect on affective pain improvement. |
Abstract
Endometriosis is a gynecological disease that involves a broad biopsychosocial compromise with the potential to create a negative vicious cycle. Despite the complexity of factors influencing women's improvement, most interventions investigated target just the peripheral nociceptive sources of endometriosis-related pain. An alternative is intervening in self-regulation, which can potentially influence multiple domains of the illness experience. The present study examines the effect of a brief Mindfulness-Based Intervention (bMBI) on attention and ANS regulation in women with endometriosis-related pain. Also, explore the interaction between these self-regulation domains and the affective pain dimension. An exploratory analysis of the secondary outcomes of a pilot RCT was performed. The vagally-mediated Heart Rate Variability (vmHRV) at rest, cognitive stress, and recovery, was employed to measure autonomic regulation. The Flanker and Stroop tasks were used to estimate the attention domains. Results showed that bMBI (n= 26) significantly improved Flanker accuracy and Flanker and Stroop reaction time compared to the control group (n= 28). bMBI significantly increased vmHRV at rest and recovery after cognitive stress. Attention mediated the bMBI effect on affective pain improvement but was associated with vmHRV reduction. This last effect was driven by women in the control group that increased attention performance with an associated decrease in parasympathetic tone, unlike those in the mindfulness group that increased attention efficiency under a higher parasympathetic tone. Results suggest that bMBI improves self-regulation domains with the potential to develop a broad biopsychosocial benefit in the endometriosis context. PERSPECTIVE: This article demonstrates the positive impact of a brief Mindfulness-Based Intervention on attention and parasympathetic regulation in women suffering from endometriosis-related pain. This mindfulness-induced self-regulation improvement can benefit affective pain and potentially multiple psychophysiological processes relevant to endometriosis.
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 2
- The efficacy and mechanism of an integrated mindfulness-based programme on posttraumatic stress disorder among people with HIV: a randomized controlled trial with 3-month follow up. European Journal of Psychotraumatology January 19, 2026
- Can self-compassion and mindfulness predict psychological wellbeing in individuals with endometriosis? Findings from an online survey. BMC Women's Health July 4, 2025
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- Mindfulness meditation–based pain relief: a mechanistic account Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences June 1, 2016
- Mindfulness-oriented recovery enhancement reduces opioid dose in primary care by strengthening autonomic regulation during meditation. American Psychologist September 1, 2020
and 6 more in the library