Pain is a common complaint in primary care, with chronic pain reported in 20% of visits to general practitioners (McCaffrey et al., 2003). Twenty percent of adults suffer from chronic pain, rising to half of those of the older age population (Cousins et al., 2004). Chronic pain, defined as “intermittent or continuous pain persisting longer than six months or beyond the regular healing time for a given injury” can impact on patients’ physical and emotional well-being (Siddall et al., 2004) and may be associated with disability disproportionate to degree of injury, as well as with depression and anxiety (Bair et al., 2003). Despite analgesics, surgeries and procedures, pain is poorly controlled by traditional Western medicine (Cousins et al., 2004, Furrow, 2001).
“Pain is not just a ‘body problem’, it is a whole-systems problem.”
Jon Kabat-Zinn
It is time the medical community acknowledged the other half of the system
Jackie Gardner-Nix
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Bair M. J., Robinson R. L., Katon W., Kroenke K. (2003). Depression and pain comorbidity: A literature review. Archives of Internal Medicine, 163, 2433–2445.
Baliki M. N., Chialvo D. R., Geha P. Y., Levy R. M., Harden N., Parrish T. B., Apkarian A. V., (2006). Chronic pain and the emotional brain: Specific brain activity associated with spontaneous fluctuations of intensity of chronic back pain. The Journal of Neuroscience, 26(47), 12165–12173.
Boden S., Davis D., Dina T., Patronas N., Wiesel S., (1990). Abnormal magnetic resonance scans of the lumbar spine in asymptomatic subjects. Journal of Bone Joint Surgery, 72, 403–408.
Boos N., Reider R., Schade V., Spratt K., Semmer N., Aebi M., (1995). The diagnostic accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging, work perception and psychosocial factors in identifying symptomatic disc herniation. Spine, 20, 2613–2625.
Bruehl S., Burns J. W., Chung O. Y., Ward P., Johnson B., (2002). Anger and pain sensitivity in chronic low back pain patients and pain-free controls: The role of endogenous opioids. Pain, 99(1–2), 223–233.
Bruehl S., Chung O. Y., Burns J. W., Biridepalli S., (2003). The association between anger expression and chronic pain intensity: Evidence for partial mediation by endogenous opioid dysfunction. Pain, 106(3), 317–324.
Büchi S., Buddeberg C., Klaghofer R., Russi E. W., Bandli O., Schlosser C., Stoll T., Villiger P. M., Sensky T. (2002). Preliminary validation of PRISM (Pictorial Representation of Illness and Self Measure) – A brief method to assess suffering. Psychother Psychosom, 71(6): 333–341.
Buchi S., Sensky T. (1999). PRISM: Pictorial representation of illness and self measure: A brief nonverbal measure of illness impact and therapeutic aid in psychosomatic medicine. Psychocsomatics, 40, 314–320.
Buchi S., Villiger P., Kauer Y., Klaghofer R., Sensky T., Stoll T. (2000). PRISM (Pictorial Representation of Illness and Self Measure)-A novel visual method to assess the global burden of illness in patients with systemic lupus erythamatosis. Lupus, 9, 368–373.
Carlson L. E., Speca M., Patel K. D., Goodey E. (2003). Mindfulness-based stress reduction in relation to quality of life, mood, symptoms of stress, and immune parameters in breast and prostate cancer outpatients. Psychosomatic Medicine, 65, 571–581.
Carson J. W., Keefe F. J., Goli V., Fras A. M., Lynch T. R., Thorp S. R., Buechler J. L. (2005). Forgiveness and chronic low back pain: A preliminary study examining the relationship of forgiveness to pain, anger, and psychological distress. Journal of Pain, 6, 84–91.
Carson J. W., Keefe F. J., Lynch T. R., Carson K. M., Goli V., Fras A. M., Thorp S. R., (2006). Loving-kindness meditation for chronic low back pain: Results from a pilot trial. Pain, 124, 287–294.
Cousins M. J., Brennan F., Carr D. B. (2004). Pain relief: A universal human right. Pain, 112, 1–4.
Davidson R. J., Kabat-Zinn J., Schumacher J., Rosenkranz M., Muller D., Santorelli S. F., Urbanowski F., Harrington A., Bonus K., Sheridan J. F. (2003). Alterations in brain and immune function produced by mindfulness meditation. Psychotherapy and Psychosomatic Medicine, 65, 564–570.
Farrar J. T., Young J. P., LaMoreaux L., Werth J. L., Poole R. M. (2001). Clinical importance of changes in chronic pain intensity measured on an 11- point numeric pain rating scale. Pain, 94, 149–158.
Fow R. N., Smith-Seemiller L. (2001). Impact of gender, compensation status and chronicity on treatment response in chronic pain patients. Journal of Applied Rehabilitation Counseling, 2, 32.
Furrow B. (2001). Pain management and provider liability: No more excuses. Journal of Law Medicine and Ethics, 29, 28–51.
Gardner-Nix J. (2003). Principles of opioid use in chronic noncancer pain. CMAJ, 169, 38–43.
Gardner-Nix, J., Backman, S., Barbati, J. Grummitt, J. (2008) Evaluating Distance Education of a Mindfulness-based Meditation Programme for Chronic Pain Management. Journal of Telemed. and Telecare, 14, 88–92.
Goleman D. J., Schwartz G. E. (1979). Meditation as an intervention in stress reactivity. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 44 (3), 456–466.
Grzesiak R. C. (2003). Revisiting pain-prone personalities: Combining psychodynamics with the neurobiological sequelae of trauma. American Journal of Pain Management, 13, 6–15.
Hayes S. C., (2004). Acceptance and commitment therapy, relational frame theory, and the third wave of behaviour therapy. Behaviou Therapy, 35, 639–665.
Hoffman B. M., Papas, R. K., Chatkoff, D. K., Kerns, R. D. (2007). Meta-analysis of psychological intervention for chronic low back pain. Health Psychology, 26(1), 1–9.
Jensen M. P., Turner J. A., Romano J. M. (1994). Correlates of improvement in multidisciplinary treatment of chronic pain. J Consult Clin Psychol 62, 172–9.
Kabat-Zinn J. (1982). An outpatient program in behavioral medicine for chronic pain patients based on the practice of mindfulness meditation: Theoretical considerations and preliminary results. General Hospital Psychiatry, 4, 33–47.
Kabat-Zinn J., Lipworth L., Burney R. (1985). The clinical use of mindfulness meditation for the self-regulation of chronic pain. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 8, 163–190.
Kabat-Zinn J., Lipworth L., Burney R., Sellers W. (1987). Four-year follow-up of a meditation-based program for the self-regulation of chronic pain: Treatment outcomes and compliance. Clinical Journal of Pain, 2, 159–173.
Kabat-Zinn J., Wheeler E., Light T., Skillings A., Scharf M. J., Cropley T. G., Hosmer D., Bernhard J. D., (1998). Influence of a mindfulness meditation-based stress reduction intervention on rates of skin clearing in patients with moderate to severe psoriasis undergoing phototherapy (UVB) and photochemotherapy (PUVA). Psychosomatic Medicine, 60, 625–632.
Kassardjian C, Gardner-Nix J. S., Dupak K, Barbati J, Lam-Mc Culloch J. “Validation of PRISM method of assessing global burden of illness and self measure in non cancer pain patients”. Journal of Pain. (In press).
Kobasa S. (1979). Stressful life events, personality, and health: An inquiry into hardiness. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 37, 1.
McCaffrey R., Frock T. L., Garguilo H. (2003). Understanding chronic pain and the mind-body connection. Holistic Nursing Practice, 17, 281–287(quiz):288–289.
McCracken L. M. (2007). Contextual analysis of attention to chronic pain: What the patient does with their pain might be more important than their awareness pr vigilance alone. Journal of Pain, 8, 230–236.
McCracken L. M., Carson J. W., Eccleston C., Keefe F. J. (2004a). Acceptance and change in the context of chronic pain. Pain, 109, 4–7.
McCracken L. M., Eccleston C. (2005). A Prospective study of acceptance of pain and patient functioning with chronic pain. Pain, 118, 164–169.
McCracken L. M., Gauntlett-Gilbert J., Vowles K. E. (2007). The role of mindfulness in a contextual cognitive-behavioral analysis of chronic pain-related suffering and disability. Pain, 131, 63–69.
McCracken L. M., Vowles E. K. (2007). Psychological flexibility and traditional pain management strategies in relation to patient functioning with chronic pain: An examination of a revised instrument. Journal of Pain, 8, 700–707.
McCracken L. M., Vowles K. E., Eccleston C., (2004b). Acceptance of chronic pain: component analysis and a revised assessment method. Pain, 107, 159–166.
McCracken L. M., Yang, S. (2006). The role of values in a contextual cognitive-behavioral approach to chronic pain. Pain, 123, 137–145.
McEwen B. S. (2007). Physiology and neurobiology of stress and adaptation: central role of the brain. Physiological Reviews, 87, 873–904
Millecamps M., Centeno M. V., Berra, H. H., Rudick, C. N., Lavarello S., Tkatch T., Apkarian, A. V. (2007). D-cycloserine reduces neuropathic pain behaviour through limbic NMDA-mediated circuitry. Pain, 132, 1–2.
Morone N. E., Lynch C. S., Greco C. M., Tindle H. A., Weiner D. K. (2008a). “I Feel Like a New Person”. The Effects of Mindfulness Meditation on Older Adults with Chronic Pain: A Qualitative Narrative Analysis of Diary Entries. Journal of Pain, 9, 841–848.
Morone N. E., Greco C. M., Weiner D. K. (2008b). Mindfulness meditation for the treatment of chronic low back pain in older adults: A randomized controlled pilot study. Pain, 134, 310–319.
Osman A., Barrios F., Gutierrez P., Kopper B., Merrifield T., Grittmann, L. (2000). The pain catastrophizing scale: Further psychometric evaluation with adult samples. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 23, 351–365.
Ott M. J., Norris R., Bauer-Wu, S. (2006). Mindfulness meditation for oncology patients: A discussion and critical review. Integrative Cancer Therapies, 5, 98–108.
Plews-Ogan M., Owens J., Goodman M., Wolfe P., Schorling J. (2005). Brief report: A pilot study evaluating mindfulness-based stress reduction and massage for the management of chronic pain. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 20, 1136–1138.
Pradham E. K., Baumgarten M., Langenberg P., Handwerger B. Gilpin A. K., Magyari, T., Hochberg M. C., Berman B. M. (2007). yEffect of mindfulness-based stress reduction in rheumatoid arthritis patients. Arthritis and Rheumatism, 57(7), 1134–1142.
Robinson M. E., Riley J. L. III, Myers C. D., Papas R. K., Wise E. A., Waxenberg L. B., Fillingim R. B. (2001). Gender role expectations of pain: Relationship to sex differences in pain. Journal of Pain 2, 251–257.
Rosengren A., Hawken S., Øunpuu S., Sliwa K., Zubaid M., Almahmeed W., Ngu Blackett K., Sitthi-amorn C., Sato H., Yusuf S. (2004). Association of psychosocial risk factors with risk acute myocardial infarction in 11 119 cases and 13 648 controls from 52 countries (the INTERHEART study): case-control study. Lancet, 364, 953–962.
Sagula D., Rice K. G. (2004). The effectiveness of mindfulness training on the grieving process and emotional well-being of chronic pain patients. Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings, 11, 333–342.
Schofferman J., Anderson D., Hines R., Smith G., Keane G., (1993). Childhood psychological trauma and chronic refractory low-back pain. Clinical Journal of Pain, 4, 260–265.
Seminowicz D. A., Davis K. D. (2007). A re-examination of pain-cognition interactions: Implications for neuroimaging. Pain, 130, 8–13.
Sephton S. E., Salmon P., Weissbecker I., et al. (2007). Mindfulness meditation alleviates depressive symptoms in women with fibromyalgia: Results of a randomized clinical trial. Arthritis Rheum, 57, 77–85.
Sherbourne J. W. C. (1992). The MOS 36-item short-form health survey (SF-36). Medical Care, 30, 473–483.
Siddall P. J., Cousins, M. J. (2004). Persistent pain as a disease entity: Implications for clinical management. Anesthesia and Analgesia, 99, 510–520.
Sullivan M. J. L., Bishop S. R., Pivik J. (1995). yThe Pain Catastrophizing Scale. Psychological Assessment, 7, 524–532.
Sullivan M. J. L., Bishop S. R., Pivik J. (2005). yThe pain catastrophizing scale: Development and validation. Psychological Assessment, 7, 524–532.
Sullivan, M. J., Stanish, W., Waite, H., Sullivan, M. Tripp, D.A. (1998). Catastrophizing, pain, and disability in patients with soft-tissue injuries. Pain, 77, 253–260.
Taylor D. N. (1995). Effects of a behavioral stress management program on anxiety, mood, self-esteem and T-cell count in HIV positive men. Psychological Reports, 76, 451–457
Telemed J., & Telecare. Goleman D and Schwartz G.E., (1976). Meditation as an intervention in stress reactivity. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 44, 456–466.
Villemure C., Bushnell M. C. (2002). Cognitive modulation of pain: how do attention and emotion influence pain processing? Pain, 95, 195–199.
Ware J. E. Jr. (2000). SF-36 health survey update. Spine, 25, 3130–3139.
Zubieta J. –K., Heitzeg M. M., Smith Y. R., Bueller J. A., Xu K., Xu Y., Koeppe R. A., Stohler C. S., Goldman D. (2003). COMT genotype affects u-opioid neurotransmitter responses to a pain stressor. Science, 299, 1240–1243.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2009 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Gardner-Nix, J. (2009). Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Chronic Pain Management. In: Didonna, F. (eds) Clinical Handbook of Mindfulness. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-09593-6_20
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-09593-6_20
Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY
Print ISBN: 978-0-387-09592-9
Online ISBN: 978-0-387-09593-6
eBook Packages: Behavioral ScienceBehavioral Science and Psychology (R0)