2. Disclosure
As a partner in For Health Wellness
Consultants Kimberly Murdoch profits from
sales of:
For Health meditation CDs and
downloads
For Health corporate seminars on
resiliency and productivity
3. Objectives
Learn about the neurobiology and research related to
mindfulness approaches
Understand and experience mindfulness techniques
Discuss ways to introduce mindfulness in the exam room
with complex chronic pain patients
Become aware of books and online resources for your
own learning and to support your patients in using
mindfulness for managing distress
4. Strong evidence that mind body‐
interventions such as mindfulness
elicit beneficial psychological and
pathophysiological effects on various
human diseases
5. What is Mindfulness?
• The most basic definition is the regulation of
attention through mind-body awareness skills
•Operational definition, “Mindfulness is a particular
way of paying attention, on purpose, in the present
moment, and non-judgmentally” Jon Kabat-Zinn, PhD
• Mindfulness is developed through a relaxed,
passive attention to a repetitive or absorbing
stimulus that turns off the “inner dialogue” thereby
decreasing arousal of the sympathetic nervous
system Herbert Benson, MD, Harvard Medical School
7. Pain and the Mind-Body Connection
“Pain is not just a “body” problem, it is a
whole-systems problem.” Jon Kabat-Zinn
Mindfulness-Based Chronic Pain
Management programs are
biopsychosocial interventions that
address several of the factors that
impact pain and the ability to heal
8. Multiple Factors Intersecting
Multiple factors impact perception of pain
and ability to heal:
thoughts, emotions, attentional biases, sleep,
nutrition, physical activity, socio-economics
and social support, life history, medical
interventions and medications, concurrent
pathologies, stress levels…
10. Breath Awareness
• Find a quiet place and consistent time for
practicing
• Attentional bias: Cultivate an attitude of
“trying easy”
• Training attention on
breathing sensations
11. Mindfulness Research Summary
Research suggests that mindfulness-
based therapies may be effective
adjunctive interventions for:
chronic pain, depression, anxiety, trauma,
Borderline Personality Disorder, OCD,
ADHD, addiction, stress
Currently few valid, reliable measures of
mindfulness
12. Research and Mindfulness-Based
Interventions in Patients with Chronic Pain
Reiner et al.: most of the reviewed chronic pain studies
(9/16) demonstrated a statistically significant decrease in
pain intensity among persons receiving mindfulness-
based interventions (MBIs)
Reductions in pain intensity were generally well
maintained in 3-month follow ups
Along with other beneficial effects of mindfulness
approaches, MBIs may help to reduce pain intensity
Reiner K, Tibi L, Lipsitz JD. Do Mindfulness-Based Interventions Reduce Pain Intensity?
A Critical Review of the Literature. Pain Med. 2013;14:230–242
13. Limitations of Research
Minimum threshold of 10 participants per group for study
inclusion was probably too low
Large majority of studies (13/16) included data only for
treatment completers which could bias results to favor
MBIs
Some studies involved novice meditators and other
studies focused on experienced meditators
Some of the controlled trials lacked randomization
Some studies investigated the effects of
mindfulness on other processes (e.g. emotion reactivity
or regulation) instead of the basic processes of
mindfulness itself
Reiner K, Tibi L, Lipsitz JD.(2013). Do Mindfulness-Based Interventions Reduce Pain Intensity? A Critical Review of
the Literature. Pain Med.14:230–242
14. Mindfulness Impact on Threat Appraisal
and Emotions
The Center for Investigating Healthy Minds
(CIHM), University of Wisconsin, Richard
Davidson, neuroscientist and team conducting
studies of “The Brain on Meditation” since 1992,
identified outcomes:
“Meditators' brains were active, particularly in the
left prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain
responsible for positive emotions” (Davidson, 2004)
15. What We Know About the Effects of
Mindfulness on Neurobiology
fMRI Conclusions:
Mindfulness meditation induces specific
changes in fMRI signal in several
structures, including the amygdala,
hippocampus, pons, anterior cingulate,
and intraparietal sulcus
Lazar, G. Bush, G. Fricchione, R.L. Gollub, G. Khalsa, H. Benson, H. (2000).
Functional Brain Mapping of the Relaxation Response using 3T fMRI S.W.
Neuroreport, 11, 7
16. What About Briefer
Mindfulness Interventions?
Moyer and colleagues at the University of Wisconsin-Stout
Random assignment to either a 5-week mindfulness
meditation group or wait list group
Meditation group meditated at home 2x/week, 25
minutes each time, on average
Meditation subjects showed same significant increase in
left hemisphere cortical activation as those who did full
intervention of earlier studies
Wait list group did not demonstrate these changes
Moyer, C. A. et al. (2011). Frontal Electroencephalographic Asymmetry Associated With
Positive Emotion Is Produced by Very Brief Meditation Training. Psychological
Science
17. Research Summary
75% of all illness is related to stress and
lifestyle habits. Former U.S. Surgeon General
Studies have found that regular practice
of meditation or relaxation provides
benefits to:
cardiac patients, surgery recovery,
immune function, pain relief, diabetics,
anxiety…
18. Physiological Benefits of Mindfulness Skills
Decrease blood pressure, heart rate, muscle tension
Reduction in serum
cholesterol
Improved immune function
Reduction in cortisol levels
Reduce pain and anxiety
Improve sleep
Changes in neurotransmitters
- ↑ serotonin, ↓ depression
Decrease inflammation
19. Psychological Benefits of Mindfulness Skills
More optimism and decreased depression
Greater self-awareness
Improved coping abilities
Reduced aggression
Greater efficiency and productivity
Improved learning capabilities, concentration
and memory
Promote feelings of inner calm and tolerance
22. Applications and Benefits
To alter physical symptoms such as
hypertension, IBS, nausea, insomnia etc.
To decrease pain and the use of pain
medications
To decrease anxiety and fear
To alleviate depression and anger
To prepare for and experience medical
procedures, treatments and tests
23. Applications and Benefits continued…
To promote healing and recovery
To enhance inner strengths, resiliency,
optimism, and self-esteem
To increase feelings of well-being, comfort and
control
To increase self-awareness
To change negative thought patterns
At end of life
24. Exclusion/Inclusion Recommendations
Exclusion:
Patients with cognitive impairments
Patients experiencing mental clouding
associated with their pain conditions or
medications
Inclusion:
“Patient preference and enthusiasm are a good
guide” Dr. William Marchand, George E. Wahlen
Veterans Affairs Medical Center and the
University of Utah (July 11, 2012 ScienceDaily.com)
25. How to Make Mindfulness Meditation
Miserable
I shouldn’t have thoughts during meditation.
My body is supposed to be relaxed.
My body should be still.
Emotions keep coming up. I shouldn’t have
feelings such as anxiety or anger. I shouldn’t cry
during meditation.
My environment should be perfectly quiet.
I can’t do this. I’m not a patient person.
26. Difficulties and Challenges
No time
Intrusive thoughts or body sensations (pain)
Emotions or memories come to the surface
Restlessness, can’t sit still
Falling asleep, wandering mind
Environmental noises
Anxiety about “letting go”
I’m not doing it ‘right, trying too hard = frustration
Appearance of images
27. Summary
Many studies have found that mindfulness-
based approaches provide benefits to:
pain management, surgery recovery, anxiety,
depression, immune function, cardiac patients,
diabetics, resiliency
Mindfulness approaches can be introduced
to patients with chronic pain in the exam
room