Brain and behavior changes associated with an abbreviated 4-week mindfulness-based stress reduction course in back pain patients.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) reduces depression, anxiety, and pain for people suffering from a variety of illnesses, and there is a growing need to understand the neurobiological networks implicated in self-reported psychological change as a result of training. Combining complementary and alternative treatments such as MBSR with other therapies is helpful; however, the time commitment of the traditional 8-week course may impede accessibility. This pilot study aimed to (1) determine if an abbreviated MBSR course improves symptoms in chronic back pain patients and (2) examine the neural and behavioral correlates of MBSR treatment.

Methods

Participants were assigned to 4 weeks of weekly MBSR training (n = 12) or a control group (stress reduction readin

SUBMITTER: Braden BB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4754498 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature