Pilot randomised controlled trial of a brief mindfulness-based intervention for those with persistent pain

Area of Science:

• Pain Management
• Mindfulness Interventions
• Clinical Trial Feasibility

Background:

• Persistent pain affects a significant portion of the population, necessitating effective and accessible management strategies.
• Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) show promise in managing chronic pain, but brief, scalable formats require further investigation.
• Pilot studies are crucial for assessing the feasibility and potential efficacy of new interventions before large-scale trials.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the feasibility of recruiting and retaining persistent pain patients in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of a brief MBI.
• To assess the immediate and short-term effects of a brief MBI on pain severity, psychological distress, and related outcomes.
• To determine the acceptability and potential efficacy of a brief mindfulness body-scan audio intervention compared to an active control.

Main Methods:

• A pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) comparing a 15-minute mindfulness body-scan audio (MBI) with an active control.
• Participants (n=147 randomized, 71 completed) used the intervention independently for one month.
• Assessments included pain severity, interference, mood, pain catastrophizing, mindfulness, self-efficacy, quality of life, and intervention acceptability at baseline, 1 week, and 1 month.

Main Results:

• No significant immediate effects of the MBI were observed on pain severity, distraction, or distress.
• The MBI group reported significantly higher ratings of intervention 'usefulness' at 1 week (p=0.044).
• Significant improvements in pain self-efficacy were observed in the MBI group at 1 month (p=0.039) compared to the control group.

Conclusions:

• It is feasible to recruit persistent pain patients for studies involving brief mindfulness-based interventions.
• While immediate effects were not significant, the brief MBI demonstrated potential for improving pain self-efficacy and perceived usefulness.
• Strategies to maximize participant retention are essential for conducting definitive RCTs in this population.