How Do Mindfulness-Based and Cognitive Behavioral Therapies Help Adults With Opioid-Treated Chronic Low Back Pain? A Qualitative Study.
Douwné L Müller, Eric L Garland, Robert R Edwards et al.
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In 30 seconds
This qualitative study explored how mindfulness-based therapy (MBT) and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) may help adults with chronic low back pain treated with opioids. It interviewed 50 participants who had completed intervention sessions and reported improvement in a 12-month randomized trial comparing MBT with CBT. Participants described reduced pain, functional limitations, and opioid dose; 98.0%, 100.0%, and 98.0% reported these changes, respectively. Most attributed the improvements to their intervention. They also described better coping with emotional challenges, stressors, and opioid-related adverse effects.
Key findings
- Among interviewed participants, 98.0% reported reduced back pain and 100.0% reported fewer functional limitations.
- Reduced opioid dose was reported by 98.0% of participants; 90.0% attributed this change to their intervention.
- Participants described using therapy-taught techniques to manage symptoms and cope with emotional challenges, life stressors, and opioid-related adverse effects.
- Participants did not raise safety concerns about either intervention.
Why it matters
The interviews suggest that adults with opioid-treated chronic low back pain may value MBT and CBT not only for pain and function, but also for coping with stress and opioid-related adverse effects. These accounts help clarify potential ways the therapies may support improvement, while reflecting the experiences of participants selected for reported benefit rather than all people receiving treatment.
What to keep in mind
Interviews were limited to participants who attended intervention sessions and reported improvement in trial outcomes and intervention experience, so their accounts may not represent all trial participants or people receiving these therapies.