Pain
October 1, 2023
Jonathan N Davies, Ben Colagiuri, Louise Sharpe et al.
15 citations
A single 20-minute online mindfulness session did not reduce chronic pain intensity or unpleasantness more than sham mindfulness or a general sham condition in 169 adults with chronic or recurrent pain. All three active conditions reduced pain unpleasantness compared to an audiobook control, and this effect was most strongly linked to participants' expectations (placebo). No evidence was found that mindfulness engages its theorized specific processes. The findings suggest that short-term pain relief from a single mindfulness session may be driven by placebo effects rather than mindfulness-specific mechanisms.
BMC medicine
April 12, 2024
Melissa A Day, Marcia A Ciol, M Elena Mendoza et al.
9 citations
Group, videoconference-delivered cognitive therapy, behavioral activation, and mindfulness meditation all produced medium-to-large reductions in pain interference for adults with chronic low back pain, with gains maintained at 3- and 6-month follow-ups. The three treatments showed similar effectiveness, with no significant differences between them except that behavioral activation improved sleep disturbance more than mindfulness meditation from pre- to post-treatment. Effect sizes for secondary outcomes were generally small to medium across all conditions. These findings indicate that telehealth-delivered psychological treatments are effective for chronic low back pain and can expand access to evidence-based care.
Rehabilitation psychology
August 1, 2023
Aaron P Turner, Karlyn A Edwards, Mark P Jensen et al.
5 citations
Mindfulness meditation and hypnosis, originally intended to treat chronic pain, also reduced daily cannabis use among U.S. military veterans. In a randomized trial with 328 Veterans at two VA medical centers, those receiving mindfulness meditation were 85% less likely to use cannabis daily at 3 months and 81% less likely at 6 months, compared to an active education control group. Hypnosis reduced daily cannabis use risk by 82% at 6 months. Neither intervention affected tobacco or alcohol use. Baseline substance use in the prior 3 months was 22% for tobacco, 27% for cannabis, and 61% for alcohol. The findings suggest these therapies may help reduce cannabis use even when that is not the treatment goal.
The journal of pain
July 1, 2025
Ingrid Bindicsova, Leanne M Hides, Katherine Brain et al.
1 citation
A 4-week internet-delivered mindfulness-based cognitive therapy program for chronic pain was tested against a delayed-treatment control in 48 adults. High engagement and an 88% retention rate indicated the program was acceptable and feasible. Pain interference showed a small-to-medium improvement, while pain intensity change was small. Other secondary outcomes also showed small-to-medium improvements. The program may help overcome access barriers to pain management.
Multiple sclerosis (Houndmills, Basingstoke, England)
June 1, 2025
Mark P Jensen, Susan Robles, Michael G Nash et al.
1 citation
Fatigue is a common problem in multiple sclerosis (MS). Providing 4 weeks of access to audio recordings of therapeutic hypnosis or mindfulness meditation reduced fatigue impact, sleep disturbance, and depressive symptom severity more than no access in 333 individuals with MS and fatigue. These improvements persisted at 16 and 28 weeks after initial access, with no serious adverse events. The findings support the feasibility of a simple, audio-based approach to significantly benefit MS-related fatigue.
Rehabilitation psychology
February 1, 2025
Erica J Ho, Aaron P Turner, Mark P Jensen et al.
1 citation
Clinical trials of pain treatments usually measure symptom reduction, but many people live well despite pain. This study tested whether hypnosis, mindfulness meditation, or pain psychoeducation improved positive psychosocial functioning—coping and meaning-making—in 262 Veterans with chronic pain. At posttreatment and 3-month follow-up, no group differed. By 6-month follow-up, those who received hypnosis or mindfulness meditation reported better positive psychosocial functioning than those who received psychoeducation. The findings suggest that pain interventions can foster human flourishing, not just reduce symptoms.
The journal of pain
January 6, 2026
Mark P Jensen, Marcia A Ciol, Kevin J Gertz et al.
Among 328 U.S. military veterans with chronic pain, three psychological changes helped explain why clinical hypnosis, mindfulness meditation, and pain education all reduced pain intensity and interference: greater willingness to tolerate pain, increased engagement in valued activities despite pain, and reduced catastrophizing. A fourth factor—working alliance with the therapist—was linked to pain reduction only for those receiving clinical hypnosis. Catastrophizing played a larger role in mindfulness training's effects, while pain willingness mattered more for hypnosis's effect on pain interference. The findings suggest that treatments targeting thoughts about pain, avoidance, valued activities, and therapeutic alliance may improve outcomes, but replication is needed.