Randomized, wait-list-controlled pilot study of app-delivered mindfulness for patients reporting chronic pain

Area of Science:

• Digital Health
• Mindfulness-Based Interventions
• Pain Management

Background:

• Chronic pain significantly impacts individuals and society, necessitating effective self-management strategies.
• Mobile applications offer a scalable platform for delivering mindfulness meditation interventions.
• App-delivered mindfulness meditation is a potential tool for managing chronic pain cognition and daily functioning.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the feasibility and acceptability of app-delivered mindfulness meditation for chronic pain.
• To evaluate the impact of this intervention on pain cognition and daily functioning.
• To identify predictors of adherence to app-based mindfulness meditation.

Main Methods:

• A longitudinal, randomized, wait-list-controlled trial (NCT03495726) was conducted over 6 weeks.
• Participants received either app-delivered mindfulness meditation or were in a wait-list control group.
• Outcomes included self-reported pain severity, pain catastrophizing, and social/physical functioning.

Main Results:

• While most used the app, less than half adhered to the program; non-adherence was linked to higher helplessness and lower education.
• Mindfulness group showed significant improvements in social functioning and reduced helplessness compared to the wait-list group.
• App usage was not significantly correlated with improvements in social functioning or helplessness.

Conclusions:

• App-delivered mindfulness meditation demonstrates benefits for patients with chronic pain, particularly in social functioning and pain-related helplessness.
• Identifying patient characteristics associated with adherence is crucial for successful implementation in clinical settings.
• Further research may explore strategies to enhance adherence to digital mindfulness interventions for chronic pain.