Pilot clinical trial of a clinical meditation and imagery intervention for chronic pain after spinal cord injury.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to assess the feasibility and potential benefits of clinical meditation and imagery (CMI) for individuals with chronic spinal cord injury (SCI) and chronic pain.
Results Summary
Pain interference decreased more in the control group, but the CMI group showed improvements in secondary outcomes like worst pain intensity, depressive symptomology, and perceived control over pain. Perceived stress improved more in the control group.
Population
Adults with chronic spinal cord injury (>1 year) and chronic pain (>3 months, rated ≥4/10 on average).
Effective Dosage
Once-weekly 2-hour group classes for 4 weeks.
Duration
4 weeks
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
clinical meditation and imagery (CMI) | decrease | Pain interference | adults with chronic SCI (>1 year) and a >3 month history of pain rated ≥4/10 on average over the last week | d > 1.0 | decreased to a greater extent in the control group | #1 |
clinical meditation and imagery (CMI) | decrease | worst pain intensity over the last week | adults with chronic SCI (>1 year) and a >3 month history of pain rated ≥4/10 on average over the last week | d > 0.80 | showed changes consistent with more favorable outcomes | #2 |
clinical meditation and imagery (CMI) | decrease | depressive symptomology | adults with chronic SCI (>1 year) and a >3 month history of pain rated ≥4/10 on average over the last week | d > 0.80 | showed changes consistent with more favorable outcomes | #3 |
clinical meditation and imagery (CMI) | decrease | belief in pain as a sign of harm | adults with chronic SCI (>1 year) and a >3 month history of pain rated ≥4/10 on average over the last week | d > 0.80 | showed changes consistent with more favorable outcomes | #4 |
clinical meditation and imagery (CMI) | increase | perceived control over pain | adults with chronic SCI (>1 year) and a >3 month history of pain rated ≥4/10 on average over the last week | d > 0.80 | showed changes consistent with more favorable outcomes | #5 |
clinical meditation and imagery (CMI) | decrease | Perceived stress | adults with chronic SCI (>1 year) and a >3 month history of pain rated ≥4/10 on average over the last week | d = 1.16 at Day 42, d = .20 at Day 70 | improved to a greater extent in the control group | #6 |
OBJECTIVE: To assess the feasibility and potential benefits of clinical meditation and imagery (CMI) for people with chronic spinal cord injury (SCI) and chronic pain. DESIGN: Pilot randomized, controlled trial. SETTING: Outpatients with SCI in the United States. PARTICIPANTS: 24 adults with chronic SCI (>1 year) and a >3 month history of pain rated ≥4/10 on average over the last week. INTERVENTIONS: 4-week program of once-weekly 2-hour group classes, offered in-person and online. CMI group participants were taught mindfulness, mantra meditation, and guided imagery practices. Control group participants received education on topics related to health and function after SCI. OUTCOME MEASURES: Pain interference (primary outcome), pain cognitions, pain intensity/unpleasantness, depressive symptomology, perceived stress. RESULTS: Pain interference decreased to a greater extent in the control group at both Day 42 and Day 70, with a large effect size (d > 1.0). Several secondary outcome measures showed changes consistent with more favorable outcomes in the CMI group at both Day 42 and Day 70, with a large effect size d > 0.80, including worst pain intensity over the last week, depressive symptomology, belief in pain as a sign of harm and perceived control over pain. Perceived stress improved to a greater extent in the control group (d = 1.16 at Day 42, d = .20 at Day 70). CONCLUSION: CMI is feasible and acceptable to implement with people with SCI and chronic pain. Further study is warranted to assess potential benefits for pain-related outcomes.