Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy on Pain and Functional Limitation In Patients with Chronic Low Back Pain
Janani Janani, M Soundharya, P. Bright Alwin Victor, K Dharshini, P. Nithya
International Journal of Allied Medical Sciences and Clinical Research October 21, 2026 DOI: 10.61096/ijamscr.v14.iss4.2026.1751-1756 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Comparative pre-test and post-test study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 50 |
| Population | Patients with chronic low back pain aged 24–50 years at Revathi Medical Centre, Tiruppur |
| Interventions | Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) |
| Duration | 16 weeks; 60 minutes per session, three sessions per week |
| Measures | McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key points | Both MBSR and CBT were associated with significant pre- to post-intervention improvements in pain intensity and functional limitation. Reductions were larger in the MBSR group: MPQ fell by about 13 points versus about 7 with CBT, and ODI fell by about 15 points versus about 8 with CBT. |
Abstract
Background: Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is a musculoskeletal condition associated with pain and functional limitation. Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) are non-pharmacological approaches used in chronic pain management.
Objective: To compare the effectiveness of MBSR and CBT on pain intensity and functional limitation in patients with CLBP.
Methods: A comparative pre-test and post-test study was conducted among 50 patients with CLBP aged 24–50 years at Revathi Medical Centre, Tiruppur. Participants were divided equally into two groups of 25. Group A received MBSR and Group B received CBT for 60 minutes per session, three sessions per week, for 16 weeks. Pain intensity was assessed using the McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ), and functional limitation was assessed using the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). Paired t-tests were used for within-group comparisons and independent t-tests for between-group comparisons. Statistical significance was set at p ≤ 0.05.
Results: In Group A, the mean MPQ score decreased from 50.00 ± 5.93 to 36.88 ± 5.00, while Group B decreased from 49.24 ± 6.23 to 42.32 ± 5.78. The ODI score decreased from 50.62 ± 9.82 to 35.16 ± 9.48 in Group A and from 50.80 ± 10.22 to 42.80 ± 9.63 in Group B. Both groups demonstrated statistically significant pre- to post-intervention improvements, with greater reductions observed in Group A.
Conclusion: Both MBSR and CBT were associated with improvements in pain and functional limitation in patients with CLBP. Greater reductions in outcome scores were observed following MBSR in this sample.