Mindfulness and CBT Offer Lasting Relief for Chronic Low Back Pain, Study Finds

[frankerkanol]

Despite an abundance of treatments for chronic low back pain, few bring sustained relief for the one in four Americans affected by this debilitating condition—the leading cause of disability worldwide. Many patients who find little relief from existing therapies are prescribed opioids, which carry the risk of addiction. More than 80% of people with chronic low back pain say they wish better treatment options were available.

Now, a new multi-institutional study led by researchers at Penn State College of Medicine and the University of Wisconsin–Madison offers a promising alternative. The study found that just eight weeks of mindfulness training or cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) produced meaningful, lasting improvements in physical function, quality of life, pain levels, and opioid use among adults with chronic low back pain who had not responded to previous treatments. These benefits persisted for up to 12 months.

The findings, published in JAMA Network Open, come from the largest randomized clinical trial to date comparing mindfulness and CBT in people with opioid-treated chronic back pain. The trial also featured a longer follow-up period than most previous studies on behavioral treatments for pain.

“Both mindfulness and cognitive behavioral therapy were shown to be safe and effective, offering lasting improvements for people with chronic back pain who are taking opioids,” said Aleksandra Zgierska, lead author and professor at Penn State College of Medicine. “These evidence-based therapies should be part of standard care.”

Chronic low back pain, the most common type of chronic non-cancer pain treated with opioids, is complex and often long-lasting. While earlier research suggested behavioral therapies can help people manage chronic pain by changing how they think about and respond to it, such studies have often been small and limited to short-term outcomes.

https://github.com/BrentGNT/Arch2
https://github.com/TomGMN/ffkoa
https://github.com/BryanEMD/kkstb
https://github.com/CodyEGT/Sfumm
https://github.com/ErikBDT/Fcumg
https://github.com/DorianKVT/Mwum
https://github.com/JeremyEGT/Ahum9
https://github.com/AidenBMT/Wmumd
https://github.com/BlakeTNS/S2ugm
https://github.com/BrettKNO/Zadzmg
https://github.com/BrodyTNN/Cscofps
https://github.com/CalebSNT/Bmumg
https://github.com/CarterSMN/KtbsK
https://github.com/ChaseDNT/Trucg
https://github.com/CooperTRN/Sf2ueg
https://github.com/DaltonYNT/Ssumg
https://github.com/EthanGNM/Wwhug
https://github.com/JacksonMRT/Bwum
https://github.com/AtevenKLD/Wtmum
https://github.com/JoshBDO/Coum5

“Chronic pain is often seen solely as a physical issue, but our research shows that addressing the psychological aspect can make a profound difference,” said Eric Garland, senior author of the study and professor at the University of California, San Diego.

The research team set out to assess not only how mindfulness compares to CBT—long considered the gold standard for pain-focused psychotherapy—but also how well these approaches work over time. Until now, only a few small studies have directly compared these methods in people with chronic low back pain, and even fewer have evaluated their long-term effects.

This study was developed with input from an advisory panel that included clinicians, caregivers, and individuals living with chronic pain. Their insights helped shape the study design, ensuring the outcomes would be meaningful and applicable to real-world clinical care.

The trial enrolled 770 adults across three locations: Madison, Wisconsin; Boston, Massachusetts; and Salt Lake City, Utah. Participants experienced moderate to severe pain, impaired function, and reduced quality of life, and had previously undergone a variety of unsuccessful treatments. All had been using daily opioid medications for at least three months prior to enrollment.

By showing that non-drug, mind-body approaches can lead to sustained improvement, this study provides strong evidence that mindfulness and CBT should be considered front-line treatments in the management of opioid-treated chronic low back pain—offering patients a safer and more effective path to relief.