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The effects of a brief mindfulness-based intervention on pain perceptions in patients with chronic pelvic pain: A case series

Lindsay E. Clark Donat, J. Reynolds, M. Bublitz, Ellen E. Flynn, Lauri S. Friedman, Sarah D. Fox

Case Reports in Women's Health, 2022

8 participants · 6 citations

Abstract

Introduction Chronic pelvic pain affects 15–20% of women, and patients frequently do not find relief with first-line therapies. Mindfulness-based meditation programs are effective in improving outcomes for patients with chronic pain conditions, but limited data exists for patients with chronic pelvic pain. We describe the effect of a brief mindfulness-based program, incorporated into pelvic-floor physical therapy visits, on perceived pain in patients with chronic pelvic pain. Case series Patients being treated for pelvic pain participated in this 8-week program. Pelvic-floor physical therapists delivered a brief mindfulness-based exercise during routine physical therapy visits. Patients reported pain scores and pain catastrophizing scores at the beginning and end of the program. Ten patients completed the program. Paired-samples t-tests showed that pain catastrophizing significantly decreased from baseline to 8 weeks in patients who completed the mindfulness training and increased among patients who withdrew. Conclusion Mindfulness-based exercises may be a useful complementary therapy for the treatment of chronic pelvic pain.

How strong is the evidence?

Evidence Hub reads this as a case series, done in people. Its evidence level is 5 of 5 (Very low · case / narrative / animal / in vitro / in silico). Case reports, narrative reviews, and animal, cell or computer-model studies give the weakest evidence for human health. Reported size: 8 participants or records.

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