Table 1.
Characteristics of included studies
| Study | Sample size | Location | Source of pain | % male | Age (M (SD)) | Intervention | Comparators | Quality rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Astin et al. [53] | 128 | USA | Fibromyalgia | 0.7 | 48 (10.6) | MBSR and Qigong for 8 weeks | Education support group | Poor |
| Bakhshani et al. [61] | 40 | Middle East | Migraine, headache | 35.1 | Intervention, 30 (9.08); control, 31 (9.57) | MBSR for 8 weeks with TAU | TAU | Poor |
| Banth and Ardebil [60] | 88 | Middle East | Back pain | 0 | 40.3(8.2) | MBSR for 8 weeks with TAU | TAU | Poor |
| Brown and Jones [54] | 40 | Europe | Fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, other musculoskeletal | 26 | Intervention, 48 (10); control, 45 (12) | Mindfulness-based pain management program: breath awareness, body awareness, gentle movement, pain management, compassion training for 8 weeks | TAU | Poor |
| Cash et al. [39] | 91 | USA | Fibromyalgia | 0 | Not reported | MBSR for 8 weeks | Waitlist control group | Fair |
| Cathcart et al. [40] | 58 | Australia | Headache | 37 | Intervention, 46 (13.10); control, 45 (14.2) | Brief mindfulness-based therapy, based on MBSR and MBCT for 3 weeks | Waitlist control group | Fair |
| Cherkin et al. [38] | 342 | USA | Back pain | 34.3 | 49 (12.3) | MBSR for 8 weeks with TAU | CBT with TAU or TAU alone | Good |
| Davis and Zautra [42] | 79 | USA | Fibromyalgia | 2 | 46; range = 22–81 | Mindful social emotional regulation internet intervention in 12 modules for 6 weeks | Healthy lifestyle tips via internet | Fair |
| Day et al. [41] | 36 | USA | Migraine, headache | 11 | 42 (12.0) | MBCT for 8 weeks adapted for headache pain with TAU | Waitlist control group | Fair |
| Dowd et al. [43] | 124 | Europe | Headache, back pain, osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, nerve pain, neuropathy | 10 | 45 (12.25) | MBCT computerized: included audio-recorded meditation, psychoeducation, mindfulness, and a cognitive and behavioral change for 6 weeks | Psychoeducation | Fair |
| Esmer et al. [55] | 40 | USA | Back pain, leg pain | 56 | Intervention, 55 (11.2); control, 58 (9.5) | MBSR for 8 weeks with TAU | TAU | Poor |
| Fjorback et al. [32] | 120 | Europe | Bodily distress syndrome | 20 | Intervention, 38 (9); control, 40 (8) | MBSR for 8 weeks with TAU | Enhanced TAU of 2-h specialist medical care and brief CBT | Good |
| Fogarty et al. [30] | 51 | New Zealand | Rheumatoid arthritis | 12 | Intervention, 52 (12); control, 55 (13) | MBSR for 8 weeks and TAU | TAU | Good |
| Garland et al. [44] | 115 | USA | Osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia | 32 | 48 (14) | MORE: multimodal intervention of mindfulness, CBT, positive psychology for 8 weeks with TAU | Support group with TAU | Fair |
| Gaylord et al. [45] | 75 | USA | Irritable bowel syndrome | 0 | Intervention, 45 (12.55); control, 41 (14.68) | Mindfulness training tailored for IBS population for 8 weeks with TAU | TAU and support group | Fair |
| Jay et al. [50] | 112 | Europe | Musculoskeletal pain | 0 | Intervention, 45.5 (9.0); control, 47.6 (8.2) | Mindfulness pain and stress workplace program for 10 weeks | TAU | Fair |
| Johns et al. [37] | 71 | USA | Cancer | 9.9 | Intervention, 56 (9.9); control, 56 (12.7) | MBSR for 8 weeks | Psychoeducation support group | Good |
| Kanter et al. [62] | 20 | USA | Interstitial cystitis, bladder pain syndrome | 0 | Intervention, 46 (15.2); control, 44 (13.9) | MBSR for 8 weeks with TAU | TAU | Poor |
| Kearney et al. [51] | 55 | USA | Gulf War illness | 85.5 | Intervention,51 (6.8); control, 48 (7.4) | MBSR for 8 weeks with TAU | TAU | Fair |
| la Cour and Petersen [46] | 109 | Europe | Varied, non-specific pain | 15 | Intervention, 47 (12.42); control, 49 (12.20) | MBSR: Standard program modified for chronic pain patients for 8 weeks with co-intervention TAU | Waitlist, TAU | Fair |
| Lengacher et al. [52] | 322 | USA | Cancer | 0 | 56.6 (9.7) | MBSR modified for breast cancer patients for 6 weeks with TAU | TAU | Fair |
| Ljotsson et al. [33] | 85 | Europe | Irritable bowel syndrome | 15 | 35 (9.4) | MBCT protocol via Internet for IBS group treatment for 10 weeks | Online discussion forum | Good |
| Ljotsson et al. [34] | 195 | Europe | Irritable bowel syndrome | 21 | 39 (11.1) | MBCT protocol via internet for IBS group treatment for 10 weeks | Online stress management program | Good |
| Meize-Grochowski et al. [56] | 31 | USA | Postherpetic neuralgia | 44 | Overall, 72 (9.6) | MBSR: 1 h instruction focusing breathing while seated comfortably, daily meditation using CD, phone call reminders, daily journal, for 6 weeks with TAU | TAU | Poor |
| Morone et al. [47] | 37 | USA | Back pain | 43 | Intervention, 74 (6.1); controls, 76 (5.0) | Modified MBSR: (1) the body scan; (2) sitting practice; (3) walking meditation for 8 weeks | Waitlist controls | Fair |
| Morone et al. [57] | 40 | USA | Back pain | 37 | Intervention, 78(7.1); control, 73(6.2) | Modified MBSR: (1) the body scan; (2) sitting practice; (3) walking meditation for 8 weeks; Over the counter and prescribed medications | Over the counter and prescribed medications | Poor |
| Morone et al. [36] | 282 | USA | Back pain | 33.7 | 74.5 (6.6) | MBSR for 8 weeks | Health education program | Good |
| Omidi and Zargar [58] | 66 | Middle East | Headache | 20 | Intervention, 35 (2.41); control, 32 (3.2) | MBSR for 8 weeks | TAU | Poor |
| Parra-Delgado and Latorre-Postigo [31] | 33 | Europe | Fibromyalgia | 0 | 53 (10.08) | MBCT for 12 weeks with TAU | TAU | Good |
| Plews-Ogan et al. [59] | 30 | USA | Musculoskeletal pain | 23 | 47 (NR) | MBSR for 8 weeks | TAU (this group used in analysis) or massage | Poor |
| Rahmani and Talepasand [63] | 24 | Middle East | Cancer | 0 | Intervention, 43 (3.07); control, 45 (3.28) | MBSR and group conscious yoga for 8 weeks | No treatment | Poor |
| Schmidt et al. [48] | 177 | Europe | Fibromyalgia | 0 | 53 (9.6) | Modified MBSR: mindfulness, yoga, and social interaction topics for 8 weeks | Waitlist (this group used in analysis), relaxation and stretching support group | Fair |
| Teixeira [64] | 22 | USA | Diabetic peripheral neuropathy | 25 | 75 (10.8) | Modified MBSR: mindfulness meditation instruction and compact disk 5 days/week over a 4-week period for 4 weeks | Nutritional information and food diary | Poor |
| Wells et al. [49] | 19 | USA | Migraine | 11 | Intervention, 46 (17); control, 45 (12) | MBSR for 8 weeks | TAU | Fair |
| Wong [65] | 100 | Asia | Unspecified | NR | NR | MBSR for 8 weeks | Multidisciplinary education program | Poor |
| Wong [28] | 100 | Asia | Unspecified | NR | 48 (7.84) | MBSR for 8 weeks | Multidisciplinary pain intervention | Good |
| Zautra et al. [29] | 144 | USA | Rheumatoid arthritis | 32 | Men, 62 (NR); women, 51 (NR) | Mindfulness meditation based on MBSR and emotion regulation therapy offered in sessions and home practice for 8 weeks | Education group (this group used in analysis), cognitive behavioral therapy | Good |
| Zgierska et al. [35] | 35 | USA | Back pain | 20 | 51.8 (9.7) | MBCT-manualized program 6 days/week for 8 weeks with TAU | TAU and opioid therapy | Good |
Note. Age (M (SD)) age mean (standard deviation, range, or not reported), CBT cognitive behavioral therapy, IBS irritable bowel syndrome, MBCT mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, MBSR mindfulness-based stress reduction, MORE mindfulness-oriented recovery enhancement, NR not reported, TAU treatment as usual