Effects of Mindfulness on Postoperative Pain, Anxiety, and Opioid Use: An Integrative Review.
Pain management nursing : official journal of the American Society of Pain Management Nurses May 13, 2025 Michael A Miller, Lichuan Ye, Maria van Pelt et al. 3 citations
An integrative review of 17 studies involving 1,454 surgical patients examined whether mindfulness can reduce pain and anxiety during the perioperative period and whether it is linked to lower opioid use after surgery. Twelve studies focused on postoperative pain: 11 reported that mindfulness decreased pain scores, especially after postoperative day seven. Of seven studies measuring opioid consumption, two found an association between mindfulness and reduced use of opioid pain medications. Five studies focused on preoperative anxiety, and two showed a statistically significant reduction in anxiety with mindfulness. The evidence suggests mindfulness notably reduces postoperative pain beyond one week, but support for reducing opioid use or preoperative anxiety is limited and mixed. More research is needed.