← Back to Search

Mindfulness-Based Pain Reduction for Back Pain (MBPR Trial)

N/A
Waitlist Available
Led By Wolf E Mehling, MD
Research Sponsored by University of California, San Francisco
Eligibility Criteria Checklist
Specific guidelines that determine who can or cannot participate in a clinical trial
Must have
Be older than 18 years old
Timeline
Screening 3 weeks
Treatment Varies
Follow Up baseline, post 8-week intervention, 6 months follow-up
Awards & highlights
No Placebo-Only Group

Summary

This trial is testing a new mindfulness-based pain reduction program to see if it's more effective than the existing mindfulness-based stress reduction program.

Who is the study for?
This trial is for adults with chronic low back pain, experiencing pain on most days over the past 6 months. Participants must have a smartphone, speak English, and rate their pain at least 3 out of 10. Exclusions include severe medical conditions like spine tumors or fractures, major mental health issues, recent back injections, pregnancy-related back problems, unstable housing plans, and certain MRI contraindications.
What is being tested?
The study tests an 8-week Mindfulness-Based Pain Reduction (MBPR) program designed to help individuals manage chronic pain. It will be refined based on feedback before comparing it to Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) in future trials. The study includes tasks measuring attention to pain during heat application.
What are the potential side effects?
As MBPR involves mindfulness practices rather than medication or invasive procedures, significant side effects are not anticipated. However, participants may experience emotional discomfort when learning to confront painful sensations mindfully.

Timeline

Screening ~ 3 weeks
Treatment ~ Varies
Follow Up ~baseline, post 8-week intervention, 6 months follow-up
This trial's timeline: 3 weeks for screening, Varies for treatment, and baseline, post 8-week intervention, 6 months follow-up for reporting.

Treatment Details

Study Objectives

Study objectives can provide a clearer picture of what you can expect from a treatment.
Primary study objectives
Pain Intensity
Secondary study objectives
Pain Interference
Other study objectives
Changes in insula cortex activation / connectivity
Interoceptive Awareness

Awards & Highlights

No Placebo-Only Group
All patients enrolled in this study will receive some form of active treatment.

Trial Design

2Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Active Control
Group I: Group 1Experimental Treatment1 Intervention
4 cohorts of 10 participants to MBPR (First 3 groups single-arm, final group of 10 randomly assigned to MBPR)
Group II: Group 2Active Control1 Intervention
The last 20 participants will be randomly assigned to MBSR or MBPR, which will results in a control group with \~10 participants undergoing MBSR

Find a Location

Who is running the clinical trial?

University of California, San FranciscoLead Sponsor
2,583 Previous Clinical Trials
15,084,014 Total Patients Enrolled
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)NIH
853 Previous Clinical Trials
671,688 Total Patients Enrolled
Wolf E Mehling, MDPrincipal InvestigatorUniversity of California, San Francisco
3 Previous Clinical Trials
74 Total Patients Enrolled

Media Library

Mindfulness Based Pain Reduction Clinical Trial Eligibility Overview. Trial Name: NCT04980612 — N/A
Mindfulness Based Pain Reduction 2023 Treatment Timeline for Medical Study. Trial Name: NCT04980612 — N/A
Chronic Lower Back Pain Clinical Trial 2023: Mindfulness Based Pain Reduction Highlights & Side Effects. Trial Name: NCT04980612 — N/A
Chronic Lower Back Pain Research Study Groups: Group 2, Group 1
~14 spots leftby Nov 2025