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Mindfulness-oriented recovery enhancement reduces pain attentional bias in chronic pain patients.

Psychotherapy and psychosomatics
January 1, 2013
Eric L Garland et al. (2 authors)
Journal ArticleRandomized Controlled TrialHuman StudyClinical
Study Details

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

Extracted Claims (6)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
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
Abstract

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.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
Adaptation, PsychologicalAdultAnalgesics, OpioidAnxietyAttentionChronic PainFemaleHumansIntention to Treat AnalysisMaleMiddle AgedMindfulnessModels, StatisticalNeuropsychological TestsPain PerceptionQuality of LifeReaction Time
Study Links
Quality Scores
SafetyNot Assessed
Efficacy85/10
Quality80/10
Citation Metrics
Total Citations72
Citations/Year6.0
Relative Citation Ratio3.13
NIH Percentile85.8%
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.95
Weight Score1.67
Normalized Score0.70
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