Research Findings Using Mindfulness-Based Interventions for Chronic Pain

Abstract

Chronic pain is a complex condition that is very detrimental to physical and psychological wellbe-ing. It carries a significant level of disability and economic burden. Pain patients frequently expe-rience comorbid mental illness (e.g. depression, anxiety, PTSD, insomnia) and often require psy-chotherapeutic interventions in addition to medication management. Mindfulness-based inter-ventions (MBIs) have emerged as a means to treat several chronic conditions (e.g. chronic pain, depression, anxiety, substance abuse, stress, insomnia). The objective of this review is to evaluate the current research on the use of MBIs in chronic pain managment. Although there are several controlled trials on the use of MBIs in chronic pain management, only a few studies were found that demonstrated significant effects on pain intensity, quality of life, as well as physical and psy-chological functioning. Therefore, the current evidence is mixed and there are insufficient data to definitively confirm the full impact of the use of MBIs in chronic pain conditions such as fibro-myalgia, chronic low back pain, rheumatoid arthritis, and chronic musculoskeletal pain. The lack of compelling evidence at this time signals a demand for higher quality investigations in this area. Research examining MBIs and concomitant CBT may be of great value in order to synergize and strengthen patient outcomes.