Mindfulness program for chronic pain patients helps depression symptoms
Mohr et al. investigated the efficacy of Mindfulness-Based Interventions (MBIs) for chronic pain through two studies: a cross-sectional comparison of chronic pain patients and healthy controls and an experiment testing Mindfulness-Based Pain Management (MBPM) versus treatment-as-usual on cognitive and emotional regulation and interoceptive awareness.
Among 24 chronic pain patients, researchers found significantly higher depression and pain levels and lower mindfulness and interoceptive awareness compared to healthy controls. Of the 16 patients who participated in the MBPM study, those in the intervention group showed significant reductions in depression, pain intensity, and interference, along with improvements in interoceptive awareness and mindfulness. However, cognitive and memory task improvements were not significant.
These findings suggest MBPM may help alleviate psychological distress and enhance body awareness in chronic pain patients. Limitations such as lack of randomization, high attrition, small sample size, and inadequate correction for multiple comparisons should be considered for future studies.
https://goamra.org/news/13458411
Mohr, E., Matthew, S., Narisetti, L., Duff, C., & Schoenberg, P. (2025). Cognitive mechanisms of mindfulness-based pain management in chronic pain. Social Sciences & Humanities Open.
Mindfulness app feasible for Brazilian and U.S. patients with advanced cancer
Access to mindfulness programs is often limited, particularly for renal cell (kidney) cancer patients, who face heightened distress, functional impairment, treatment side effects, and reduced quality of life. To address this, researchers introduced the Mindfulness-Based Cancer Survivorship Journey (MBCSJ) smartphone app to 50 Stage 4 renal cell cancer patients in Brazil and the U.S. The app included guided meditations, such as body, breath-focused, open awareness, compassion, walking, and mindful movement, along with mindful imagery exercises, coping strategies, and journaling prompts.
After four weeks, 75% of patients with high adherence to the app showed significant improvements in anxiety, depression, fear of recurrence, fatigue, mindfulness, and overall quality of life. In contrast, those with lower adherence cited difficulties using the app, lack of interest or improvement, and life circumstances interfering with participation. Future research with larger sample sizes and controlled designs is needed to further validate the app’s effectiveness and explore its potential for improving the well-being of metastatic cancer patients undergoing treatment.
https://goamra.org/news/13469704
Bergerot, C. D., Bergerot, P. G., Philip, E. J., ... Pal, S. K. (2025). Feasibility and acceptability of a mindfulness app-based intervention among patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma: A multinational study. The Oncologist.