Meditation-Based Therapies for Chronic Neuropathy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
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
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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 |
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.