Internet-delivered mindfulness for people with depression and chronic pain following spinal cord injury: a randomized, controlled feasibility trial.
Jasmine Heath Hearn, Katherine Anne Finlay
Spinal cord August 2018 DOI: 10.1038/s41393-018-0090-2 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled feasibility study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 67 |
| Population | UK community sample of adults with spinal cord injury |
| Interventions | Web-based mindfulness training internet-delivered psychoeducation |
| Duration | 8-week intervention, with follow-up 3 months after the intervention |
| Topics | Depression Meditation |
| Key points | Web-based mindfulness training reduced depression symptom severity significantly more than internet-delivered psychoeducation at the end of the 8-week intervention (mean difference -1.50) and at 3-month follow-up (mean difference -2.34), and also produced greater reductions in anxiety, pain unpleasantness, and pain catastrophizing. The authors conclude that internet-delivered mindfulness is viable for people with reduced sensory awareness and suggest future work combine education and mindfulness training. |
Abstract
Between-subjects, randomized controlled feasibility study. Populations with reduced sensory and motor function are at increased risk of depression, anxiety and pain, and may be less geographically mobile. This study explored the efficacy and feasibility of web-based mindfulness training for people with spinal cord injury (SCI). UK community sample. Participants were randomly allocated to an 8-week online mindfulness intervention (N = 36), or to internet-delivered psychoeducation (N = 31). Depression symptom severity was the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes included anxiety, quality of life (QoL), pain perception, pain catastrophizing and mindfulness. Measures were taken before (T1), at completion of, (T2), and 3 months following the intervention (T3). At T2, ten participants discontinued mindfulness training, and five discontinued psychoeducation. Dropouts were of significantly older age. Nine participants were lost to follow-up. Mindfulness reduced depression significantly more than psychoeducation at T2 (mean difference = -1.50, 95% CI [-2.43, -0.58]) and T3 (mean difference = -2.34, 95% CI [-3.62, -1.10]). Anxiety, pain unpleasantness and catastrophizing were significantly reduced compared with psychoeducation. Total mindfulness scores, and all facets of mindfulness except observing were significantly higher following mindfulness training. At follow-up, reductions in anxiety and catastrophizing persisted. Internet-delivered mindfulness training offers unique benefits and is viable for people with reduced sensory awareness. Future work should explore the feasibility of combined education and mindfulness training. The use of brief interventions shows promise in maximizing participant retention.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on depression, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cited by 20
- Mindfulness for health and wellbeing in adults with spinal cord injury: A scoping review Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine July 15, 2024
- Enhancing Chronic Non-Cancer Pain Management: A Systematic Review of Mindfulness Therapies and Guided Imagery Interventions. Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) April 23, 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
- Evaluation of mindfulness-based interventions for pain, anxiety, and depression in spinal cord injury patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Clinical neurology and neurosurgery April 1, 2025
- Mindfulness- and acceptance-based interventions for people with spinal cord injury: a scoping review. Spinal cord March 1, 2025
and 15 more in the library
Cites 9
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and 4 more in the library