Displaying 1 - 2 of 2
The purpose of this review is to explore the impact of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) on the brain. Neuroimaging studies using both clinical and nonclinical samples are reviewed herein, with a particular focus on functional and structural related brain changes associated with participation in MBSR. Despite a number of methodological limitations, these preliminary neuroimaging investigations revealed that MBSR training affects areas of the brain related to attention, introspection, and emotional processing consistent with the outcomes observed in the clinical literature. Directions for future research are discussed throughout. To further elucidate the processes through which mindfulness exerts its effects on the brain future studies using larger sample sizes, incorporating imaging tasks with performance measures, including longer-term follow-ups, and quantifying the relationship between home practice adherence with structural and functional changes are needed.
PurposeThis study aims to examine if mindfulness is associated with pain catastrophizing, depression, disability, and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in cancer survivors with chronic neuropathic pain (CNP).
Method
We conducted a cross-sectional survey with cancer survivors experiencing CNP. Participants (n = 76) were men (24 %) and women (76 %) with an average age of 56.5 years (SD = 9.4). Participants were at least 1 year post-treatment, with no evidence of cancer, and with symptoms of neuropathic pain for more than three months. Participants completed the Five Facets Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ), along with measures of pain intensity, pain catastrophizing, pain interference, depression, and HRQOL.
Results
Mindfulness was negatively correlated with pain intensity, pain catastrophizing, pain interference, and depression, and it was positively correlated with mental health-related HRQOL. Regression analyses demonstrated that mindfulness was a negative predictor of pain intensity and depression and a positive predictor of mental HRQOL after controlling for pain catastrophizing, age, and gender. The two mindfulness facets that were most consistently associated with better outcomes were non-judging and acting with awareness. Mindfulness significantly moderated the relationships between pain intensity and pain catastrophizing and between pain intensity and pain interference.
Conclusion
It appears that mindfulness mitigates the impact of pain experiences in cancer survivors experiencing CNP post-treatment.