Research Design, Setting and Participants

This project conducted an open pilot trial of MBCP for veterans. Participants attended an eight-week MBCP course, that included meditation, gentle yoga, body scans, and discussions of pain, stress, and mindful awareness. Veterans were assessed at baseline and post-intervention.

Participants (N=22; mean age = 49.77; 18% women) were recruited from a VA Medical Center in the Northeastern U.S. between September 2017 and February 2018. Eligibility criteria included: 1) enrolled at the VA Medical Center, 2) chronic pain involving the lower back of at least three-month duration, 3) at least one clinical (primary care, specialty pain clinic) visit where back pain was addressed within the past 15 months, 4) a rating of self-reported pain bothersomeness of at least 4 on a 0 to 10 scale, 5) a score of 3 or more on the pain intensity scale, and 6) be able to understand and comply with instructions. Exclusion criteria were limited to: 1) back pain possibly due to specific conditions (e.g., cancer, discitis, infection, scoliosis, spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis, pregnancy, fibromyalgia, progressive neurologic deficits), 2) back pain in the context of litigation or active compensation-seeking, 3) plans for new interventions (e.g., specialist or surgical care) during the study period, 4) use of a mind-body intervention for back pain currently or in the past year, 5) hearing impairment precluding use of MBCP practice recordings, 6) active psychosis, severe personality disorder, or other unstable psychiatric disorder, 7) moderate or severe substance use disorders (aside from nicotine/caffeine). Study site institutional review boards reviewed and approved all procedures. All participants received any medical care they would normally receive.

Eligible participants were invited to enroll in MBCP and complete two in-person assessments: baseline and post-treatment follow-up. Participants received $50 in compensation for baseline, $10 for each MBCP class attended, and $40 for the post-treatment visit.