Four-Year Follow-Up of a Meditation-Based Program for the Self-Regulation of Chronic Pain

TLDR

The study followed 225 chronic pain patients who received mindfulness meditation training, with follow‑up assessments ranging from 2.5 to 48 months using the McGill Melzack Fain Rating Index. Participants experienced large, significant improvements in physical and psychological status that were largely maintained at follow‑up, with most reporting high adherence and valuing the program, although some pain scores tended to return toward baseline.

Abstract

Two hundred twenty-five chronic pain patients were studied following training in mindfulness meditation. Large and significant overall improvements were recorded post-intervention in physical and psychological status. These gains were maintained at follow-up in the majority of subjects. Follow-up times ranged from 2.5–48 months. Status on the McUill Melzack Fain Rating Index (PRI). however, tended to revert to preintervention levels following the intervention. Most subjects reported a high degree of adherence with the meditation techniques, maintenance of improved status over time, and a high degree of importance attributed to the training program. We conclude that such training can have long-term benefit for chronic pain patients.