Primary Investigator: Aleksandra Zgierska, MD, PhD

Department: Department of Family Medicine and Community Health

Additional DFMCH InvestigatorsBruce Barrett, MD, PhD and Mary Henningfield, PhD

Summary of Study:

We are comparing two behavioral therapies to see which one will help people better cope with chronic low back and live a more fulfilling life. One therapy teaches people to reduce negative reactions to pain (mindfulness meditation). The other teaches people how to change thoughts and feelings associated with pain (cognitive behavioral therapy).

Eligibility and Exclusion of Recruitment:

Eligibility:

  • Chronic low back pain (CLBP) ≥ 3 months in duration
  • Currently receiving ≥30 mg/day of morphine-equivalent opioid dose for ≥3 months for CLBP
  • English-speaking
  • ≥21 years old

Exclusions:

  • Prior formal training in mindfulness meditation (MM) or cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)

Questions of Research:

  1. To compare the effectiveness of MM to CBT for reducing pain and increasing function. We hypothesize that adults with opioid-treated CLBP in the MM group will report a greater reduction in pain severity and a greater increase in function at 6 and 12 months compared to those in the CBT group.
  2. To compare the effectiveness of MM to CBT for improving quality of life (QoL) and reducing daily opioid dose. We hypothesize that adults with opioid-treated CLBP in the MM group will report a greater improvement in QoL and a greater decrease in daily opioid dose at 6 and 12 months compared to those in the CBT group.
  3. To examine if participant baseline characteristics impact treatment response to MM or CBT. We hypothesize that among those with increased baseline symptom severity of anxiety, depression and opioid misuse behaviors, MM will be more beneficial than CBT for improving Aim 1 and Aim 2 outcomes.

Study Contact Person: Cindy Burzinski

Email: Cindy.Burzinski@fammed.wisc.edu

Date of Approval: June 20, 2017

Study Dates:

Website: http://www.pcori.org/research-results/2016/comparative-effectiveness-randomized-controlled-trial-mindfulness-meditation

Study Recruitment Website: http://www.stampstudy.org