Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Treating Low Back Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.
Dennis Anheyer, Heidemarie Haller, Jürgen Barth, Romy Lauche, Gustav J Dobos, Holger Cramer
Annals of Internal Medicine June 6, 2017 DOI: 10.7326/m16-1997 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Systematic review Randomized Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 864 |
| Population | Patients with low back pain |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) |
| Duration | Short- and long-term follow-up (duration not specified) |
| Measures | numerical rating scale for pain intensity |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | Across seven randomized trials, MBSR was associated with short-term improvements in pain intensity and physical functioning compared with usual care, but these effects were not sustained long term, and no significant differences were found for disability, mental health, pain acceptance, or mindfulness, or when MBSR was compared with active treatments. |
Abstract
Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) is frequently used to treat pain-related conditions, but its effects on low back pain are uncertain. To assess the efficacy and safety of MBSR in patients with low back pain. Searches of MEDLINE/PubMed, Scopus, the Cochrane Library, and PsycINFO to 15 June 2016. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared MBSR with usual care or an active comparator and assessed pain intensity or pain-related disability as a primary outcome in patients with low back pain. Two reviewers independently extracted data on study characteristics, patients, interventions, outcome measures, and results at short- and long-term follow-up. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool. Seven RCTs involving 864 patients with low back pain were eligible for review. Compared with usual care, MBSR was associated with short-term improvements in pain intensity (4 RCTs; mean difference [MD], -0.96 point on a numerical rating scale [95% CI, -1.64 to -0.34 point]; standardized mean difference [SMD], -0.48 point [CI, -0.82 to -0.14 point]) and physical functioning (2 RCTs; MD, 2.50 [CI, 0.90 to 4.10 point]; SMD, 0.25 [CI, 0.09 to 0.41 point]) that were not sustained in the long term. Between-group differences in disability, mental health, pain acceptance, and mindfulness were not significant at short- or long-term follow-up. Compared with an active comparator, MBSR was not associated with significant differences in short- or long-term outcomes. No serious adverse events were reported. The number of eligible RCTs was limited; only 3 evaluated MBSR against an active comparator. Mindfulness-based stress reduction may be associated with short-term effects on pain intensity and physical functioning. Long-term RCTs that compare MBSR versus active treatments are needed in order to best understand the role of MBSR in the management of low back pain. None.
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 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 54
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- Mindfulness-based stress reduction for treating chronic headache: A systematic review and meta-analysis Cephalalgia June 4, 2018
- A Systematic Review of a Polyvagal Perspective on Embodied Contemplative Practices as Promoters of Cardiorespiratory Coupling and Traumatic Stress Recovery for PTSD and OCD: Research Methodologies and State of the Art International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health November 1, 2021
- Virtual Reality Combined with Mind-Body Therapies for the Management of Pain: A Scoping Review. International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis 2024
- Virtually delivered Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement (MORE) reduces daily pain intensity in patients with lumbosacral radiculopathy: a randomized controlled trial. PAIN Reports April 1, 2024
and 49 more in the library
Cites 17
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- Prevention of relapse/recurrence in major depression by mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 2000
- Standardised Mindfulness-Based Interventions in Healthcare: An Overview of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses of RCTs PLoS One April 16, 2015
- Mindfulness meditation for the treatment of chronic low back pain in older adults: A randomized controlled pilot study ☆ Pain June 4, 2007
and 12 more in the library