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Annals of Behavioral Medicine
Published in: Annals of Behavioral Medicine 2/2017

Open Access 01-04-2017 | Original Article

Mindfulness Meditation for Chronic Pain: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Authors: Lara Hilton, MPH, Susanne Hempel, PhD, Brett A. Ewing, MS, Eric Apaydin, MPP, Lea Xenakis, MPA, Sydne Newberry, PhD, Ben Colaiaco, MA, Alicia Ruelaz Maher, MD, Roberta M. Shanman, MS, Melony E. Sorbero, PhD, Margaret A. Maglione, MPP

Published in: Annals of Behavioral Medicine | Issue 2/2017

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Abstract

Background

Chronic pain patients increasingly seek treatment through mindfulness meditation.

Purpose

This study aims to synthesize evidence on efficacy and safety of mindfulness meditation interventions for the treatment of chronic pain in adults.

Method

We conducted a systematic review on randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with meta-analyses using the Hartung-Knapp-Sidik-Jonkman method for random-effects models. Quality of evidence was assessed using the GRADE approach. Outcomes included pain, depression, quality of life, and analgesic use.

Results

Thirty-eight RCTs met inclusion criteria; seven reported on safety. We found low-quality evidence that mindfulness meditation is associated with a small decrease in pain compared with all types of controls in 30 RCTs. Statistically significant effects were also found for depression symptoms and quality of life.

Conclusions

While mindfulness meditation improves pain and depression symptoms and quality of life, additional well-designed, rigorous, and large-scale RCTs are needed to decisively provide estimates of the efficacy of mindfulness meditation for chronic pain.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Mindfulness Meditation for Chronic Pain: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Authors
Lara Hilton, MPH
Susanne Hempel, PhD
Brett A. Ewing, MS
Eric Apaydin, MPP
Lea Xenakis, MPA
Sydne Newberry, PhD
Ben Colaiaco, MA
Alicia Ruelaz Maher, MD
Roberta M. Shanman, MS
Melony E. Sorbero, PhD
Margaret A. Maglione, MPP
Publication date
01-04-2017
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Annals of Behavioral Medicine / Issue 2/2017
Print ISSN: 0883-6612
Electronic ISSN: 1532-4796
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12160-016-9844-2

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