A randomized-controlled trial comparing relative effects of mindfulness-based interoceptive exposure focus versus distraction on cold-pressor induced pain.
Corinna Baum, Vanessa Ditter, Janina Wurtz, Maureen Schitter, Anne Martinelli
Behaviour research and therapy July 26, 2025 DOI: 10.1016/j.brat.2025.104824 via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractDirecting 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.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 160 |
| Population | Healthy adults (mean age 24 years, 71% female) |
| Interventions | Mindfulness-based Interoceptive Exposure Task (MIET) distraction task |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Distraction Interoceptive exposure Miet Pain coping |
| Citations | 1 |
| Key finding | Both MIET and distraction improved pain tolerance and reduced pain intensity and aversiveness, with MIET showing particular advantage for pain tolerance, and individual differences in mindfulness and fear of pain predicting the MIET effect. |
Abstract
Pain can positively be influenced by the control or direction of attention, e.g. attention diversion from or focusing on pain. The Mindfulness-based Interoceptive Exposure Task (MIET) is an easy to learn and simple to apply interoceptive desensitization method using a sensory focus strategy. This study investigates the distinct effects of sensory-focus and distraction on experimental pain reduction. One hundred and sixty participants (mean age = 24 years, 71 % female) were randomized to a MIET, distraction or passive control condition. Cold pain tolerance, intensity and aversiveness were assessed during task performance and compared to baseline. The MIET and distraction task both improved pain tolerance while reducing pain intensity and aversiveness. Even considering individual pain baselines, both tasks were effective for pain intensity and the MIET for pain tolerance, in particular. Dispositional mindfulness, measured by the Five Factor Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ), and pain-related fear, measured by the Fear of Pain Questionnaire, served as distinct predictors of the pain-reducing MIET effect. Individuals with lower mindful awareness and nonreactivity on the FFMQ appeared to benefit more from the MIET method, particularly for pain tolerance. Higher fear of pain reduced the effect of the MIET on pain intensity but not on pain tolerance. This study demonstrates the efficacy of attention directing tasks on pain processing and shows distinct advantages of an exposure-based mindfulness task on pain tolerance and intensity.