Mindfulness-oriented recovery enhancement reduces pain attentional bias in chronic pain patients.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine if a mindfulness-oriented intervention (MORE) could significantly reduce pain attentional bias (AB) among chronic pain patients receiving opioid analgesics.
Results Summary
The study found that the MORE intervention significantly reduced pain AB for cues presented for 2,000 ms compared to pretreatment levels, while no significant changes were observed in the support group. Decreases in pain AB were associated with improved perceived pain control and reduced emotional reactivity.
Population
Adults with chronic pain receiving opioid analgesics (n=67).
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
8 weeks
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement (MORE) | decrease | pain attentional bias (AB) | chronic pain patients receiving opioid analgesics | - | significantly reduced | #1 |
social support group intervention | no change | pain attentional bias (AB) | chronic pain patients receiving opioid analgesics | - | no significant pre-post treatment changes | #2 |
- | increase | pain-related cues presented for 2,000 ms | chronic pain patients receiving opioid analgesics | - | exhibited a significant bias towards | #3 |
- | no change | cues presented for 200 ms | chronic pain patients receiving opioid analgesics | - | no bias for | #4 |
- | increase | perceived control over pain | chronic pain patients receiving opioid analgesics | - | Decreases in pain AB were associated with increased | #5 |
- | decrease | reactivity to distressing thoughts and emotions | chronic pain patients receiving opioid analgesics | - | Decreases in pain AB were associated with attenuated | #6 |
BACKGROUND: Chronic pain involves hypervigilance for pain-related stimuli. Selective attention to pain-related stimuli, known as pain attentional bias (AB), can exacerbate chronic pain, prolong suffering, and undermine quality of life. The aim of this study was to determine if a multimodal mindfulness-oriented intervention could significantly reduce pain AB among chronic pain patients receiving opioid analgesics. METHODS: A total of 67 chronic pain patients were randomized to an 8-week Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement (MORE) intervention or a social support group intervention and began treatment. A dot probe task was used to measure pain AB. Primary outcomes were pain AB scores for cues presented for 2,000 and 200 ms. RESULTS: Prior to intervention, participants exhibited a significant bias towards pain-related cues presented for 2,000 ms, but no bias for cues presented for 200 ms. A statistically significant time × intervention condition interaction was observed for 2,000 ms pain AB, such that participants in MORE evidenced significantly reduced posttreatment pain AB relative to pretreatment levels, whereas no significant pre-post treatment changes in pain AB were observed for support group participants. Decreases in pain AB were associated with increased perceived control over pain and attenuated reactivity to distressing thoughts and emotions. CONCLUSION: Study findings provide the first indication that a mindfulness-oriented intervention may reduce pain AB among adults suffering from chronic pain. Given the magnitude of chronic pain in postindustrial societies, coupled with the dramatic escalation in prescription opioid misuse, future studies should evaluate MORE as a nonpharmacological means of addressing factors linked with chronic pain.