Effects of Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction on Pain, Depression and Anxiety of Patients with Chronic Low Back Pain

Abstract

BackgroundMindfulness‐based stress reduction (MBSR) reduces pain, depression, and anxiety in patients suffering from various illnesses. MBSR and other complementary/alternative therapies can be used in conjunction with prescription medications. This article examines the effectiveness of MBSR as a mind-body intervention on the level of pain, depression, and anxiety in females with chronic low back pain (CLBP).MethodsA total of thirty patients diagnosed with CLBP by physicians enrolled in this study and randomly assigned to the experimental (MBSR+ usual medical care) and the control group (usual medical care only). The Beck Depression Inventory, the Beck Anxiety Inventory, and the pain rating scale were used to evaluate participants in three-time frames: before, right away, and eight weeks following the intervention. The final data were analyzed by ANCOVA using SPSS software.Our findings showed that MBSR was influential in reducing pain severity, depression, and anxiety of patients who practiced eight meditation sessions more than patients who only received usual medical care (P<0.001).ConclusionA short MBSR course could be a useful supplemental therapy that specifically reduces pain, anxiety, and depression in patients diagnosed with chronic low back pain. In contrast, a longer course may be necessary to detect unique improvements in total anxiety and cognitive aspects of depression.