TY - JOUR
T1 - Virtually delivered Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement (MORE) reduces daily pain intensity in patients with lumbosacral radiculopathy
T2 - a randomized controlled trial
AU - Wexler, Ryan S.
AU - Fox, Devon J.
AU - Zuzero, Danielle
AU - Bollen, Melissa
AU - Parikshak, Anand
AU - Edmond, Hannah
AU - Lemau, Johnny
AU - Montenegro, Diane
AU - Ramirez, Jillian
AU - Kwin, Sophia
AU - Thompson, Austin R.
AU - Carlson, Hans L.
AU - Marshall, Lynn
AU - Kern, Thomas
AU - Mist, Scott D.
AU - Bradley, Ryan
AU - Hanes, Douglas A.
AU - Zwickey, Heather
AU - Pickworth, Courtney K.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 Lippincott Williams and Wilkins. All rights reserved.
PY - 2024/4/14
Y1 - 2024/4/14
N2 - Introduction:Lumbosacral radiculopathy (LR), also known as sciatica, is a common type of radiating neurologic pain involving burning, tingling, and numbness in the lower extremities. It has an estimated lifetime prevalence as high as 43%.Objectives:The objective of this randomized controlled trial was to evaluate the impact of virtually delivered Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement (MORE) on patients with LR during the COVID-19 pandemic.Methods:Potentially eligible patients were identified using electronic health record queries and phone screenings. Participants were then randomized to MORE or treatment-as-usual (TAU) for 8 weeks, with pain intensity assessed daily. At baseline and follow-up visits, participants completed questionnaires assessing the primary outcome, disability, as well as quality of life, depression, mindful reinterpretation of pain, and trait mindfulness.Results:In our study, patients undergoing virtual delivery of MORE had greater improvements in daily pain intensity (P = 0.002) but not in disability (P = 0.09), depression (P = 0.26), or quality of life (P = 0.99 and P = 0.89, SF-12 physical and mental component scores, respectively), relative to TAU patients. In addition, patients in MORE experienced significantly greater increases in mindful reinterpretation of pain (P = 0.029) and trait mindfulness (P = 0.035).Conclusion:Among patients with lumbar radiculopathy, MORE significantly reduced daily pain intensity but did not decrease disability or depression symptoms. Given the long duration of symptoms in our sample, we hypothesize the discrepancy between changes in daily pain intensity and disability is due to fear avoidance behaviors common in patients with chronic pain. As the first trial of a mindfulness intervention in patients with LR, these findings should inform future integrative approaches to LR treatment, particularly when considering the increasing use of virtual interventions throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
AB - Introduction:Lumbosacral radiculopathy (LR), also known as sciatica, is a common type of radiating neurologic pain involving burning, tingling, and numbness in the lower extremities. It has an estimated lifetime prevalence as high as 43%.Objectives:The objective of this randomized controlled trial was to evaluate the impact of virtually delivered Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement (MORE) on patients with LR during the COVID-19 pandemic.Methods:Potentially eligible patients were identified using electronic health record queries and phone screenings. Participants were then randomized to MORE or treatment-as-usual (TAU) for 8 weeks, with pain intensity assessed daily. At baseline and follow-up visits, participants completed questionnaires assessing the primary outcome, disability, as well as quality of life, depression, mindful reinterpretation of pain, and trait mindfulness.Results:In our study, patients undergoing virtual delivery of MORE had greater improvements in daily pain intensity (P = 0.002) but not in disability (P = 0.09), depression (P = 0.26), or quality of life (P = 0.99 and P = 0.89, SF-12 physical and mental component scores, respectively), relative to TAU patients. In addition, patients in MORE experienced significantly greater increases in mindful reinterpretation of pain (P = 0.029) and trait mindfulness (P = 0.035).Conclusion:Among patients with lumbar radiculopathy, MORE significantly reduced daily pain intensity but did not decrease disability or depression symptoms. Given the long duration of symptoms in our sample, we hypothesize the discrepancy between changes in daily pain intensity and disability is due to fear avoidance behaviors common in patients with chronic pain. As the first trial of a mindfulness intervention in patients with LR, these findings should inform future integrative approaches to LR treatment, particularly when considering the increasing use of virtual interventions throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
KW - Chronic low back pain
KW - Integrative pain management
KW - Lumbosacral radiculopathy
KW - Mindfulness-based interventions
KW - Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85188520367&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85188520367&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1097/PR9.0000000000001132
DO - 10.1097/PR9.0000000000001132
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85188520367
SN - 2471-2531
VL - 9
SP - E1132
JO - Pain Reports
JF - Pain Reports
IS - 2
ER -