Mindfulness-Based Stress
Reduction and Chronic Pain
Kabat-Zinn, J., Lipworth, L.
and Burney, R. The clinical use of mindfulness
meditation for the self-regulation of chronic
pain. J. Behav. Med. (1985) 8:163-190.
Abstract:
Ninety chronic pain patients
were trained in mindfulness meditation in a
10-week Stress Reduction and Relaxation Program.
Statistically significant
reductions were observed in measures of
present-moment pain, negative body image,
inhibition of activity by pain, symptoms, mood
disturbance, and psychological symptomatology,
including anxiety and depression. Pain-related
drug utilization decreased and activity levels and
feelings of self-esteem increased. Improvement
appeared to be independent of gender, source of
referral, and type of pain.
A comparison group of pain
patients did not show significant improvement on
these measures after traditional treatment
protocols. At follow-up, the improvements observed
during the meditation training were maintained up
to 15 months post- meditation training for all
measures except present-moment pain.
The majority of subjects
reported continued high compliance with the
meditation practice as part of their daily lives.
The relationship of mindfulness meditation to
other psychological methods for chronic pain
control is discussed.
