Four-Year Follow-Up of a Meditation-Based Program for the... : The Clinical Journal of Pain (original) (raw)
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Four-Year Follow-Up of a Meditation-Based Program for the Self-Regulation of Chronic Pain
Treatment Outcomes and Compliance
*Division oj Preventive and Behavioral Medicine. University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester. Massachusetts. U.S
Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester. Massachusetts. U.S
†Departmant of Family and Communitv Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester. Massachusetts. U.S and ‡Pain Control Center. Department of Anesthesiology. University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester. Massachusetts. U.S.A.
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.
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