A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Examining the Effect of Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction on Pain Severity and Quality of Life in People Living With Fibromyalgia.
European journal of pain (London, England) April 1, 2026 Edward Walsh, Kayleigh Hart, Bettina Forster
A systematic review and meta-analysis of 11 trials involving 1,153 people with fibromyalgia (1,097 women) found that Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) does not significantly reduce pain severity compared with active control treatments, updating earlier guidance from 2013. MBSR did produce small improvements in quality of life at both short and long term follow up, and reduced pain catastrophising at long term follow up. Effects on pain severity and depression were only significant at short term follow up versus passive control. The certainty of evidence ranged from very low to moderate. The results suggest a lasting, mindfulness-specific mechanism that improves quality of life without directly reducing pain.