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Pain, mindfulness, and placebo: a systematic review
Alexandra Lopes1, Rute Sampaio1,2, Isaura Tavares1,3,4
1Department of Biomedicine, Unit of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.
Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience
|September 13, 2024
Summary
Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) show promise for pain relief, but the role of placebo effects and expectations needs more study. Future research should routinely measure these factors to understand their impact on pain management.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Pain Management
- Mindfulness Research
Background:
- Pain is a complex experience influenced by psychosocial factors like the placebo effect.
- Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) are effective for pain, but their mechanisms, including placebo effects, are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review existing literature on placebo effects within MBIs for pain.
- To evaluate the extent to which expectations and placebo effects are considered in MBI pain research.
Main Methods:
- A systematic review of studies was conducted using PubMed, Web of Science, and SCOPUS.
- Searches identified 272 studies, with 19 meeting inclusion criteria for analyzing expectations and placebo effects in pain.
Main Results:
- Only a small number of studies (19) focused on placebo effects in MBIs for pain.
- Six of these studies measured placebo effects related to pharmacological interventions, not MBIs.
- The limited studies indicate placebo and expectation effects play a role in MBIs' impact on acute and chronic pain.
Conclusions:
- Placebo and expectancy effects are significant in MBIs for pain but are not routinely measured in study designs.
- Further research and routine measurement of these factors are crucial for a comprehensive understanding of MBIs' effectiveness in pain relief.
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