Single Arm Trial Identifying Barriers and Facilitators to Mindfulness Practice
University of Washington
Summary
This observational study will examine what emotional, physical, and environmental factors make it easier or harder for people with multiple sclerosis (MS) and chronic pain to practice mindfulness daily while participating in a group-based Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) program.
Description
Chronic pain affects about half of people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS), and standard drug treatments often provide limited relief. Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) is an 8-week program that combines mindfulness practices with cognitive and behavioral coping skills and has shown positive effects on pain severity, pain interference, and pain catastrophizing in PwMS. However, daily home practice is essential to achieving these benefits, and adherence is poor. People with chronic pain complete less than 40 out of every 100 recommended practice sessions. PwMS face unique barriers to pra…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18+ years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: * Have an MS diagnosis of any subtype per record review * Average pain intensity in past week of at least moderate severity (\>3 on the 0-10 numerical rating scale) * Report pain \>50% of days in the past 3 months. * Are able to comply with study procedures and complete measures independently via self-report (on mobile phone) Exclusion Criteria: * Less than 18 years of age * Score greater than 8 on the Expanded Disability Status Scale * Have significant cognitive impairment as indicated by 1 or more errors on the 6-item Cognitive Screener * Change in disease modifying me…
Interventions
- BehavioralMBCT
Participants will attend eight, 2-hour group treatment MBCT sessions delivered using free video-conferencing technology. Groups will consist of 6-12 people who also have MS and chronic pain. Participants will be asked to practice skills learned in session between sessions. MBCT integrates mindfulness meditation practices within a CBT-oriented framework to address not only unhelpful pain cognitions and behaviors but also attentional control, decoupling of attention from emotion, mindful cognitions, and meditative behavior.
Location
- University of WashingtonSeattle, Washington