Mindfulness-based stress reduction for chronic pain conditions: Variation in treatment outcomes and role of home meditation practice

Rosenzweig, Steven; Greeson, Jeffrey M.; Reibel, Diane K.; Green, Joshua S.; Jasser, Samar A.; Beasley, Denise

doi:10.1016/j.jpsychores.2009.03.010

« Previous Next »Journal of Psychosomatic Research
Volume 68, Issue 1 , Pages 29-36, January 2010

Mindfulness-based stress reduction for chronic pain conditions: Variation in treatment outcomes and role of home meditation practice

Steven Rosenzweig
- Office of Educational Affairs, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Jeffrey M. Greeson
- Duke Integrative Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
- Corresponding author. Duke Integrative Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, DUMC Box 102904, Durham, NC 27710, USA. Tel.: +1 919 660 6773; fax: +1 919 684 6445.
Diane K. Reibel
- Jefferson-Myrna Brind Center of Integrative Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Joshua S. Green
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Jefferson Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Samar A. Jasser
- Department of Psychiatry and PENN Behavioral Health, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Denise Beasley
- Jefferson-Myrna Brind Center of Integrative Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, USA

Received 1 December 2007; received in revised form 15 January 2009; accepted 20 March 2009. published online 27 April 2009.

Abstract

Objective

This study compared changes in bodily pain, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and psychological symptoms during an 8-week mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) program among groups of participants with different chronic pain conditions.

Methods

From 1997-2003, a longitudinal investigation of chronic pain patients (n=133) was nested within a larger prospective cohort study of heterogeneous patients participating in MBSR at a university-based Integrative Medicine center. Measures included the Short-Form 36 Health Survey and Symptom Checklist-90-Revised. Paired t tests were used to compare pre–post changes on outcome measures. Differences in treatment effect sizes were compared as a function of chronic pain condition. Correlations were examined between outcome parameters and home meditation practice.

Results

Outcomes differed in significance and magnitude across common chronic pain conditions. Diagnostic subgroups of patients with arthritis, back/neck pain, or two or more comorbid pain conditions demonstrated a significant change in pain intensity and functional limitations due to pain following MBSR. Participants with arthritis showed the largest treatment effects for HRQoL and psychological distress. Patients with chronic headache/migraine experienced the smallest improvement in pain and HRQoL. Patients with fibromyalgia had the smallest improvement in psychological distress. Greater home meditation practice was associated with improvement on several outcome measures, including overall psychological distress, somatization symptoms, and self-rated health, but not pain and other quality of life scales.

Conclusion

MBSR treatment effects on pain, HRQoL and psychological well-being vary as a function of chronic pain condition and compliance with home meditation practice.

Keywords: Chronic pain, Compliance, Effect size, Health-related quality of life, Meditation, Mindfulness-based stress reduction, Psychological distress