Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction (MBSR) as Treatment for Chronic Back Pain - an Observational Study with Assessment of Thalamocortical Dysrhythmia
Stefan Schmidt, Sophia Gmeiner, Claudia Schultz, Marc Löwer, Klaus Kuhn, José Raúl Naranjo, Christina Brenneisen, Thilo Hinterberger
Complementary Medicine Research 2015 DOI: 10.1159/000440687 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Pilot study Randomized Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 22 |
| Population | Patients with chronic low back pain |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) |
| Duration | 8-week intervention |
| Measures | EQ-5D, VAS, SF-12, questions on life satisfaction, HADS, Brief Symptom Inventory, pain perception scale, EEG power spectral density |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key points | MBSR was feasible for patients with chronic low back pain, with medium effect sizes for quality of life, life satisfaction, depression, and affective pain perception, and pain severity improvements in the range of d = 0.45-0.75. No EEG differences were found between pre- and post-intervention. The authors call for randomized controlled trials to determine the specificity of these benefits. |
Abstract
Background: A pilot study of an 8-week mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) program on a sample of low back pain patients was conducted in order to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of the intervention as well as changes in an EEG pattern called thalamocortical dysrhythmia which is associated with chronic pain. Patients and
Methods: 22 patients with chronic low back pain participated in an MBSR program. Effect sizes were measured for psychological functioning, pain severity, and quality of life. Furthermore, 4 parameters of the EEG power spectral density were assessed.
Results: Medium size effect sizes were found for health-related quality of life (EQ-5D, VAS, d = 0.43, p = 0.02; SF-12, psychological functioning, d = 0.50, p = 0.05), health-related life satisfaction (questions on life satisfaction d = 0.69, p = 0.01), depression (HADS, d = 0.48, p = 0.04, Brief Symptom Inventory d = 0.41, p = 0.04), and affective pain perception (pain perception scale d = 0.50, p = 0.04). The most relevant pain severity measurements improved in the range of d = 0.45-0.75 (p = 0.01-0.24). EEG analyses revealed no differences between the pre- and post-intervention.
Conclusion: MBSR is a feasible intervention for patients with low back pain. They benefit from medium size effects which are comparable to similar behavioral interventions. Randomized controlled trials are needed in order to determine the specificity of these benefits.
Comparable studies
Other non-randomized and open-label trials on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction in Relation to Quality of Life, Mood, Symptoms of Stress, and Immune Parameters in Breast and Prostate Cancer Outpatients Early-stage breast and prostate cancer patients | 2003 | Pre-post intervention study | n = 59 |
| Exploring self‐compassion and empathy in the context of mindfulness‐based stress reduction (MBSR) Community sample | 2010 | Pre-post intervention study | |
| Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Lowers Psychological Distress In Medical Students Second-year medical students | 2003 | Prospective nonrandomized cohort-controlled study | n = 302 |
| Intensive meditation training, immune cell telomerase activity, and psychological mediators. Retreat participants and matched controls | 2011 | Controlled trial with wait-list control group | n = 60 |
| The Effectiveness of Mindfulness Training for Children with ADHD and Mindful Parenting for their Parents Children aged 8-12 with ADHD and their parents | 2011 | Within-group waitlist controlled trial | n = 22 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 5
- State of the art in EEG signal features of mindfulness-based treatments for chronic pain. Neurological Sciences August 1, 2025
- Protocol for mindfulness-oriented recovery enhancement (MORE) in the management of lumbosacral radiculopathy/radiculitis symptoms: A randomized controlled trial. Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications August 2022
- Integrated Meditation and Exercise Therapy: A Randomized Controlled Pilot of a Combined Nonpharmacological Intervention Focused on Reducing Disability and Pain in Patients with Chronic Low Back Pain. Pain Medicine February 23, 2021
- A Literature Review Evaluating the Efficacy of Meditation as an Adjunctive Method for Managing Chronic Lower Back Pain 2019
- Integrated meditation and exercise therapy: A randomized controlled trial of a combined non-pharmacological intervention reduces disability and pain in patients with chronic low back pain
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- Mindfulness meditation for the treatment of chronic low back pain in older adults: A randomized controlled pilot study ☆ Pain June 4, 2007
- Effect of Mindfulness‐Based stress reduction in rheumatoid arthritis patients Arthritis Care & Research September 28, 2007
- Mindfulness Based Functional Therapy: A preliminary open trial of an integrated model of care for people with persistent low back pain. Frontiers in Psychology September 16, 2014
- Mindfulness-based stress reduction for low back pain. A systematic review. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine September 25, 2012
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