Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) as an Alternative Therapy for Chronic Pain
Kayla Ohlgren
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review |
|---|---|
| Population | Chronic pain patients, as represented in 18 peer-reviewed scholarly articles |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Citations | 2 |
| Key findings | The thesis argues that MBSR offers benefits for chronic pain patients in pain severity, quality of life, psychological distress, and duration of benefits, plus practical advantages including low cost, feasibility, no negative side effects, and lasting skills. It concludes that the literature underrepresents minorities, men, and lower-SES patients, and calls for future research on lower-SES populations. |
Abstract
This thesis discusses the possibility of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) as an alternative therapy for chronic pain in contrast to traditional medical care. It examines 18 peer-reviewed scholarly articles and identifies benefits for chronic pain patients in terms of pain severity, quality of life, psychological distress, and duration of benefits. This thesis also identifies practical benefits of MBSR such as cost, implementation, no negative side effects, and the creation of life-long skills to be used after treatment has ended. In conclusion, there is a significant gap in the current academic literature pertaining to chronic pain patients who are minorities, men, or of lower socioeconomic status (SES). Future studies are needed to address individuals of lower SES to provide MBSR to all populations equally.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness training as a clinical intervention: A conceptual and empirical review. Clinical populations | 2003 | Review | |
| Mindfulness: Theoretical Foundations and Evidence for its Salutary Effects | 2007 | Review | |
| Mindfulness Interventions | 2016 | Review | |
| Mind the Hype: A Critical Evaluation and Prescriptive Agenda for Research on Mindfulness and Meditation | 2017 | Review | |
| Mindfulness and acceptance: expanding the cognitive-behavioral tradition | 2005 | Review |
Citations in the library
Cites 15
- Meditation experience is associated with increased cortical thickness Neuroreport November 7, 2005
- Mindfulness meditation alleviates depressive symptoms in women with fibromyalgia: Results of a randomized clinical trial Arthritis Care & Research January 31, 2007
- Effect of Mindfulness‐Based stress reduction in rheumatoid arthritis patients Arthritis Care & Research September 28, 2007
- Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction: pilot study of a treatment group for patients with chronic pain in a primary care setting Primary Health Care Research & Development July 1, 2015
- Effectiveness of mindfulness meditation on pain and quality of life of patients with chronic low back pain. International Journal of Yoga 2015
and 10 more in the library