A new measure, the Mindful Reappraisal of Pain Sensations Scale (MRPS), was developed and validated across multiple studies. The scale captures how mindfulness helps people shift from catastrophic pain appraisals to viewing pain as a harmless sensory signal. In samples of opioid-treated chronic pain patients, the MRPS showed a single-factor structure and good convergent and divergent validity. Mindfulness training via Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement (MORE) increased MRPS scores more than supportive psychotherapy. Changes in MRPS scores statistically mediated the effect of MORE on reducing chronic pain severity through 9-month follow-up, indicating the MRPS measures a key analgesic mechanism involving attentional disengagement and interoceptive exposure.
Providing a loving-kindness meditation (LKM) intervention during core-needle breast biopsy (CNBB) significantly improved women's adherence to recommended breast imaging over the following 18 months. Among 120 women randomly assigned to LKM, music, or usual care during biopsy, adherence was 90% for the LKM group, compared to 71% for music and 69% for usual care. Women in the LKM group were 3.9 times more likely to adhere than those receiving usual care, and 3.5 times more likely than those in the music group. Music did not significantly improve adherence over usual care. The positive effect of LKM held regardless of whether biopsy results were abnormal or benign. Offering LKM during CNBB is a simple, scalable approach that may boost long-term screening compliance.