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Meditation-Based Therapies for Chronic Neuropathy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Cureus
August 1, 2024
Cristian I Babos et al. (3 authors)
Journal ArticleReviewHuman Study
Study Details

Study Goal

The researchers aimed to evaluate the efficacy of meditation-based therapies in relieving symptoms, improving quality of life, and reducing stress and mood conditions in individuals with chronic neuropathy.

Results Summary

The study found that meditation significantly reduced anxiety, depression, and pain severity at follow-up, while increasing mindfulness scores. However, effects on perceived stress, sleep quality, and immediate pain severity were less consistent or not statistically significant.

Population

Adult patients with persistent peripheral neuropathy of various etiologies.

Effective Dosage

Not specified

Duration

Follow-up assessments at 1 to 1.5 months post-intervention.

Interactions

None mentioned

Extracted Claims (13)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
meditation-based therapy
decrease
neuropathic pain severity score
individuals with chronic neuropathy of various etiologies
-0.47 (95% CI: -0.97 to 0.02), p=0.062
had a lower standardized mean difference (SMD) score
#1
meditation-based therapy
decrease
anxiety scores
individuals with chronic neuropathy of various etiologies
-2.5 (95% CI: -3.68 to -1.32), p=<0.001
had lower anxiety scores
#2
meditation-based therapy
decrease
depression scores
individuals with chronic neuropathy of various etiologies
-1.53 (95% CI: -2.12 to -0.93), p=<0.001
had lower depression scores
#3
meditation-based therapy
decrease
perceived stress
individuals with chronic neuropathy of various etiologies
-1.06 (95% CI: -3.15 to 1.04), p=0.323
had lower perceived stress
#4
meditation-based therapy
increase
quality of life scores
individuals with chronic neuropathy of various etiologies
2.19 (95% CI: -0.65 to 5.03), p=0.13
had higher quality of life scores
#5
meditation-based therapy
decrease
sleep quality scores
individuals with chronic neuropathy of various etiologies
-1.27 (95% CI: -4.22 to 1.67), p=0.397
had lower sleep quality scores
#6
meditation-based therapy
increase
mindfulness scores
individuals with chronic neuropathy of various etiologies
6.71 (95% CI: 4.09 to 9.33), p=<0.001
had higher mindfulness scores
#7
meditation-based therapy
decrease
pain severity at 1 to 1.5 follow up
individuals with chronic neuropathy of various etiologies
-1.75 (95% CI: -2.98 to -0.51), p=0.006
had lower pain severity
#8
meditation-based therapy
decrease
symptomatology
individuals with chronic neuropathy of various etiologies
-
improving symptomatology
#9
meditation-based therapy
decrease
pain
individuals with chronic neuropathy of various etiologies
-
had significantly lower pain (at 1 to 1.5 months follow-up)
#10
meditation-based therapy
decrease
anxiety scores
individuals with chronic neuropathy of various etiologies
-
had significantly lower anxiety scores
#11
meditation-based therapy
decrease
depression scores
individuals with chronic neuropathy of various etiologies
-
had significantly lower depression scores
#12
meditation-based therapy
increase
mindfulness scores
individuals with chronic neuropathy of various etiologies
-
had higher mindfulness scores
#13
Abstract

Mind-body therapies have been found to be effective in a variety of pathologies. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of meditation-based therapies in relieving the symptoms severity, quality of life, stress and other associated mood conditions, in individuals with chronic neuropathy of various etiologies. A systematic review of randomized controlled trials, involving adult patients with persistent peripheral neuropathy, was performed. Seven article databases were searched. A meta-analysis was conducted to assess the benefits of meditation-based therapy on symptomatology, quality of life, anxiety, depression, perceived stress, sleep quality and mindfulness score. Ten of the 1133 reviewed papers were selected for quantitative review. The meditation group had a lower standardized mean difference (SMD) score (-0.47 (95% CI: -0.97 to 0.02), p=0.062) for neuropathic pain severity score; lower anxiety scores (-2.5 (95% CI: -3.68 to -1.32), p=<0.001); lower depression scores (-1.53 (95% CI: -2.12 to -0.93), p=<0.001); lower perceived stress (-1.06 (95% CI: -3.15 to 1.04), p=0.323); higher quality of life scores (2.19 (95% CI: -0.65 to 5.03), p=0.13); lower sleep quality scores (-1.27 (95% CI: -4.22 to 1.67), p=0.397); higher mindfulness scores (6.71 (95% CI: 4.09 to 9.33), p=<0.001); and lower pain severity at 1 to 1.5 follow up (-1.75 (95% CI: -2.98 to -0.51), p=0.006). Some of the results were characterized by a substantial, statistically significant heterogeneity. Nevertheless, a major part of the results pointed in the same direction, improving symptomatology with meditation-based therapy. The studies had a risk of bias mostly regarding the measurement of the outcome, randomization process and selection of the reported result. The current study discovered that the meditation group had significantly lower pain (at 1 to 1.5 months follow-up) anxiety, and depression scores and higher mindfulness scores at the end of the interventions.

Study Links
Quality Scores
SafetyNot Assessed
Efficacy75/10
Quality80/10
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.05
Weight Score2.43
Normalized Score0.66
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