An eight-week mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) program, added to usual care, reduced pain intensity and pain interference in chronic pain patients compared with usual care alone. At 6 months, the MBSR group reported significantly less worst pain in the last 24 hours, less pain right now, and less interference with mood, normal work, and relationships. At 13 months, improvements persisted for worst pain, average pain, pain right now, and interference with mood and sleep. Perceived quality of life also differed between groups at 13 months (55.9 vs 58.7). The findings suggest MBSR benefits chronic pain management beyond standard care.
A mindfulness-based stress reduction program for long-COVID patients reduced pain intensity and pain interference on some daily activities at 6 and 12 months. The intervention group showed lower anxiety scores at 6 months (11.28 vs 13.15) and 12 months (10.88 vs 13.41), and lower depression scores at 6 months (9.95 vs 11.23) and 12 months (9.67 vs 10.69). Insomnia symptoms were reduced at 6 months (score 53.2 vs 30.4). The authors suggest adding an annual mindfulness program to drug therapy for long-COVID patients and call for larger studies testing a twice-yearly program.