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Psychological Therapy in Chronic Pain: Differential Efficacy between Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

E. M. Pardos-Gascón, Lucas Narambuena, César Leal-Costa, A. J. Ramos-Morcillo, M. Ruzafa-Martínez, C. J. Van-Der Hofstadt Román

Journal of Clinical Medicine August 1, 2021 DOI: 10.3390/jcm10163544 (opens in new tab)

Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Quasi-experimental Peer reviewed
Sample size 162
Population Patients receiving MBCT or CBT
Interventions Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Topics Meditation
Key findings MBCT and CBT had comparable efficacies, with a slight trend towards larger effect sizes in MBCT and CBT improving sleep-related variables while MBCT was associated with improvements in pain and quality of life.

Abstract

The objective of this study is to evaluate the differential efficacy between Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). A quasi-experimental design of repeated measures before and after the test (n = 57) was used with a non-equivalent control group from a previous cohort treated with CBT (n = 105). The t-test revealed significant differences in subjective quality of life for the MBCT group, and in quantity, optimum, and adequate sleep for the CBT group. The pre–post effect size comparison mostly showed slightly larger effect sizes in the MBCT group. CBT and MBCT had comparable efficacies, although a slight trend towards larger effect sizes in MBCT was found. Likewise, CBT seemed to improve sleep-related variables, while MBCT was associated with improvements in pain and quality of life.