MBSR, programma su dolore cronico lombare: uno studio pilota

The objective of this pilot study is to determine the impact of the Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program on chronic low-back pain (CLBP) as well as on physical, endocrine (cortisol hormone) and psycho- logical functioning. Participants in this observational study were 28 adults, average age = 47.77, sd = 12.36, median = 47. In order to deal with their pain, both groups were undergoing standard medical treatment, consisting in both pharmacological and invasive treatments. 17 participants were randomized to the 8-week MBSR program, the other 11 were put onto a waiting-list control group. Pain severity, quality of life (QOL), global psychological functioning, and depression were assessed for both groups at baseline and at the end of the program. Results: 8 participants completed the meditation program. During its course participants reported that they had done an average of 20 minutes of meditation-related practices per day, while this average decreased to 15 minutes a month after the end of the program. Significant differences between the baseline and the end of the treatment conditions were found in pain severity, social, and mental functioning. Salivary cortisol showed a significant increase in evening cortisol release. Similar measurements uncovered no significant difference in the control group, yet drop-outs numbers made some comparisons difficult to interpret. Effect sizes were medium-small for measurements of both pain severity and QOL. Conclusions: a MBSR program for adults with CLBP showed small improvement, if compared with the control, at the end of the treatment on measures of pain severity and QOL. Cortisol increase has been judged positively in the context of CLBP hypocortisolism. It is also recognized that the effects of the MBSR treatment may take more time to surface. This study's results suggest that mind-body research shows promise and should, therefore, be an avenue for further investigation through larger clinical trials within the context of the Italian Health Care System.