A randomized-controlled trial comparing relative effects of mindfulness-based interoceptive exposure focus versus distraction on cold-pressor induced pain.
Behaviour research and therapy July 26, 2025 Corinna Baum, Vanessa Ditter, Janina Wurtz et al. 1 citation
Directing attention either toward or away from pain can reduce its impact. The Mindfulness-based Interoceptive Exposure Task (MIET), a sensory-focus method, and a distraction task both improved cold pain tolerance and reduced pain intensity and aversiveness in 160 participants (mean age 24 years, 71% female). MIET showed particular benefit for pain tolerance. People with lower dispositional mindfulness (lower scores on mindful awareness and nonreactivity) benefited more from MIET for pain tolerance, while higher fear of pain reduced MIET's effect on pain intensity but not tolerance.