Mindfulness for adolescent chronic pain: a pilot feasibility study.
David Adam Lovas, Kathleen Pajer, Jill MacLaren Chorney, Dzung X Vo, Melissa Howlett, Ashley Doyle, Adam Huber
Journal of Child and Adolescent Mental Health September 2017 DOI: 10.2989/17280583.2017.1355807 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Open-label pilot study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 7 |
| Population | Adolescents with chronic pain, ages 14-17 (median 15; six female) |
| Duration | 8-week intervention with three-month follow-up |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key points | An 8-week group mindfulness-based intervention was feasible for adolescents with chronic pain: all seven participants completed it with no dropouts and a median of seven of eight sessions attended. Pain intensity fell significantly and remained lower at three-month follow-up, while somatic symptoms and functional disability improved significantly only at three months. The authors propose it warrants further investigation as a potential alternative to cognitive behavioural therapy. |
Abstract
Chronic pain is common in paediatric populations and many patients do not respond to the currently available evidence-based treatments. Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) have a growing evidence-base in adults, but evidence is limited in youth with chronic pain. We conducted an open-label pilot study to test the feasibility of an 8-week MBI for this population. Seven adolescents (age range 14-17; median age 15; six female) completed the intervention. There were no dropouts. Median class attendance was seven of eight total sessions (SD = 0.76). Only one (14.3%) participant reported not finding it useful; five (71.4%) reported that they would recommend it to a friend; and the remaining two (28.6%) reported "maybe". There was no worsening of internalizing symptoms. Secondary outcomes included significant reduction of pain intensity, which was maintained at three-month follow-up. Somatic symptoms and functional disability were both non-significantly lower immediately following the intervention; but were significantly improved at three-month follow-up. An eight-week group MBI is a feasible intervention for adolescents with chronic pain, and warrants further investigation as a potential alternative to cognitive behavioural therapy in this population.
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 4
- 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
- Mindfulness Interventions for Adolescents With Chronic Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. European Journal of Pain May 1, 2026
- Living With Physical Health Conditions: A Systematic Review of Mindfulness-Based Interventions for Children, Adolescents, and Their Parents. Journal of pediatric psychology April 1, 2023
- Mindfulness-Based Interventions Among Adolescents With Chronic Diseases in Clinical Settings: A Systematic Review. Journal of pediatric health care : official publication of National Association of Pediatric Nurse Associates & Practitioners 2018
Cites 10
- Meditation Programs for Psychological Stress and Well-being JAMA Internal Medicine January 6, 2014
- Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for depression August 21, 2006
- Mindfulness-Based Intervention for Adolescents with Recurrent Headaches: A Pilot Feasibility Study Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2015
- Do mindfulness-based interventions reduce pain intensity? A critical review of the literature. Pain Medicine February 2013
- Mindfulness-based therapies in the treatment of somatization disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS One 2013
and 5 more in the library