Effects of mindfulness meditation on chronic pain: a randomized controlled trial.
Peter La Cour, Marian Petersen
Pain Medicine April 2015 DOI: 10.1111/pme.12605 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 109 |
| Population | Patients with nonspecific chronic pain |
| Duration | MBSR course; 6-month follow-up |
| Measures | SF36 vitality scale, SF36, Cohen's d |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Pain management Pain psychology Rct |
| Key findings | MBSR produced a significant effect on the primary outcome, SF36 vitality (Cohen's d = 0.39), and medium to large effects on anxiety, depression, mental quality of life, feeling in control of pain, and pain acceptance (d = 0.37-0.71). Effects on pain measures were small and nonsignificant, and outcomes just after the intervention did not differ significantly from the 6-month follow-up. |
Abstract
This randomized controlled clinical trial investigated the effects of mindfulness meditation on chronic pain. A total of 109 patients with nonspecific chronic pain were randomized to either a standardized mindfulness meditation program (mindfulness-based stress reduction [MBSR]) or to a wait list control. Pain, physical function, mental function, pain acceptance, and health-related quality of life were measured. The SF36 vitality scale was chosen as the primary outcome measure; the primary end point was after completing the MBSR course. Within a 2.5-year period, 43 of the 109 randomized patients completed the mindfulness program, while 47 remained in the control group. Data were compared at three time points: at baseline, after completion of the course/waiting period, and at the 6-month follow-up. Significant effect (Cohen's d = 0.39) was found on the primary outcome measure, the SF36 vitality scale. On the secondary variables, significant medium to large size effects (Cohen's d = 0.37-0.71) were found for lower general anxiety and depression, better mental quality of life (psychological well-being), feeling in control of the pain, and higher pain acceptance. Small (nonsignificant) effect sizes were found for pain measures. There were no significant differences in the measures just after the intervention vs the 6-month follow-up. A standardized mindfulness program (MBSR) contributes positively to pain management and can exert clinically relevant effects on several important dimensions in patients with long-lasting chronic pain.
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 55
- Standardised Mindfulness-Based Interventions in Healthcare: An Overview of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses of RCTs PLoS One April 16, 2015
- Resting-State Network Functional Connectivity Patterns Associated with the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale Brain Connectivity November 13, 2017
- The associations and effects of mindfulness on anger and aggression: A meta-analytic review. Clinical Psychology Review June 1, 2025
- Effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction meditation on the emotional reaction to affective pictures assessed by electrodermal activity Biomedical Signal Processing and Control August 12, 2023
- Mindful awareness and resilience skills for adolescents (MARS-A): a mixed-methods study of a mindfulness-based intervention for a heterogeneous adolescent clinical population. International journal of adolescent medicine and health February 1, 2024
and 50 more in the library
Cites 9
- Mindfulness meditation for the treatment of chronic low back pain in older adults: A randomized controlled pilot study ☆ Pain June 4, 2007
- Do mindfulness-based interventions reduce pain intensity? A critical review of the literature. Pain Medicine February 2013
- Mindfulness therapy for somatization disorder and functional somatic syndromes: randomized trial with one-year follow-up. Journal of Psychosomatic Research January 2013
- Mindfulness-based therapies in the treatment of somatization disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS One 2013
- Acceptance-based interventions for the treatment of chronic pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Pain March 2011
and 4 more in the library