A research team set out to evaluate the effectiveness of mindfulness compared to cognitive behavioral therapy as treatments for chronic opioid-treated low back pain and their long-term effects. CBT is considered the standard psychotherapy for chronic pain, but its long-term benefits haven’t been well studied. To date, only 17 studies have evaluated mindfulness for chronic low-back pain and three studies have compared mindfulness and CBT.

The team enrolled 770 adults to participate in a randomized clinical trial. Participants, on average, experienced moderate-to-severe pain, functional limitations, compromised quality of life and numerous prior treatments for their chronic low-back pain and were treated with daily opioid medications for at least three months. Participants were then assigned to either receive mindfulness-based therapy or CBT, which were conducted in therapist-led, two-hour group sessions for eight weeks. The mindfulness group learned to notice the sensations they experienced, giving them more control over how they related and responded to the pain and other symptoms. The CBT group learned coping skills and strategies to change their negative thought patterns. Participants were not instructed to reduce their opioid dosage.

At the end of the study, participants in both groups reported significant and long-lasting benefits including reductions in pain and daily opioid dose. They also reported increased function and health-related quality of life through 12 months. Both mindfulness and CBT tools were shown that they could be effective and used safely over the long-term, the researchers said. Unfortunately, these therapies depend on continued opioid use. Nor are they readily available for most low back pain sufferers. Are you looking to reduce or avoid opioid use? The solution? Opioid-free expert chiropractic care.

Presented as a service to the community by: Union County Chiropractic Clinic, 110 Skyline Drive, Maynardville, TN (865) 992-7000 www.unioncountychiropractic.com