Brief Mindfulness-Based Intervention for Chronic Pain: A Pilot Randomized Clinical Trial

Participants. To gather pilot data on the effects of BMBI, the investigators will aim to enroll up to 60 participants (up to 30 in each condition). Participants will be adults with chronic non-cancer pain (daily pain for at least 3 months).

Outcomes. Outcome measures were selected based on existing recommendations, including IMMPACT guidelines, for efficacy trials in chronic pain.

• Aim #1: Test the effects of BMBI, relative to control, on central pain processing using quantitative sensory testing. Quantitative sensory testing (cold pressor test and pressure algometer) will be used to characterize pain processing: pain threshold (i.e., when pain is first detected), pain tolerance (i.e., the duration of time that pain can be tolerated), and pain severity (i.e., intensity of pain). In the cold pressor test, a participant will be asked to place his or her hand in an ice bath until the pain is too great to remain in the water. Consistent with past research, a 15 liter refrigerated circulator (Polyscience MX15R-30-A11B) with water temperature set as low as 1°C will be used. In the pressure algometer test, the algometer will be used to apply pressure to the skin until the pain can no longer be tolerated. The investigators will utilize a device widely used in alogmeter pain research (Wagnder Force One Alogmeter FIPX).
• Aim #2: Test the immediate effects of BMBI, relative to control, on state self-report measures of pain, negative affect, and decentering. State self-report outcomes include: state decentering (7-item Decentering Subscale of the Toronto Mindfulness Scale), state pain intensity (1 item from the Brief Pain Inventory), state pain unpleasantness (1-item rated on 0-10 scale), state anxiety (1-item rated on 0-10 scale), state distress (1-item rated on 0-10 scale), state relaxation (1-item rated on 0-10 scale), and outcome expectancies (5-item Outcome Expectancies Questionnaire).
• Aim #3: Test longer-term effects of BMBI, relative to control, on trait self-report measures of pain, negative affect, trait mindfulness, and well-being. Trait self-report outcomes include: pain intensity and interference (9-item Brief Pain Inventory), anxiety and depression (14-item Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), trait mindfulness (15-item Mindful Attention Awareness Scale), psychological well-being (10-item Schwartz Outcome Scale), and home practice over the 4-week follow-up period (TLFB method).

Procedure. Participants will be recruited primarily via flyers and postings in newspapers and on the Internet. Prospective participants will be screened by phone (about 30 minutes). Provisionally eligible participants will be asked to attend a 1-hour appointment, which will begin with informed consent procedures (5-10 minutes) and a pre-intervention assessment (about 20 minutes; includes demographics questionnaire, self-report outcome measures, and quantitative sensory testing).

Eligible participants will be randomized to a condition, complete a 20-minute session of either BMBI or Control, and undergo a postintervention assessment (about 10 minutes; includes self-report outcome measures and quantitative sensory testing). Following the assessment, participants will be encouraged to practice the technique associated with their intervention (i.e., practicing mindfulness technique in BMBI, preparing healthy meals in Control) 20 minutes/day for 1 week at home and to track their practice and opioid use during the follow-up period; the follow-up assessments will be conducted over the phone by a research assistant and include the self-report outcome measures (no quantitative sensory testing). All study procedures are anticipated to last 2 hours and 30 minutes (30 minutes for screening, 1 hour for in-person appointment, and 30 minutes for each follow-up assessment).