Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for the treatment of headache pain: A mixed-methods analysis comparing treatment responders and treatment non-responders.
Author: Day MA1, Thorn BE2, Rubin NJ3.
Affiliation:
1Department of Psychology, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, United States. Electronic address: day014@crimson.ua.edu. 2Department of Psychology, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, United States. 3Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, The University of Alabama School of Medicine, Tuscaloosa, AL, United States.
Conference/Journal: Complement Ther Med.
Date published: 2014 Apr
Other:
Volume ID: 22 , Issue ID: 2 , Pages: 278-85 , Special Notes: doi: 10.1016/j.ctim.2013.12.018. Epub 2014 Jan 9. , Word Count: 262
Our recent pilot study demonstrated mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) is a potentially efficacious headache pain treatment; however, it was not universally effective for all participants. This study sought to explore patient characteristics associated with MBCT treatment response and the potential processes of change that allowed treatment responders to improve and that were potentially lacking in the non-responders.
DESIGN:
We implemented a mixed-methods analysis of quantitative and qualitative data. The sample consisted of 21 participants, 14 of whom were classified as treatment responders (≥50% improvement in pain intensity and/or pain interference) and seven as non-responders (<50% improvement).
SETTING:
The study was conducted at the Kilgo Headache Clinic and the University of Alabama Psychology Clinic.
INTERVENTION:
Participants completed an 8-week MBCT treatment for headache pain management.
MEASURES:
Standardized measures of pain, psychosocial outcomes, and non-specific therapy factors were obtained; all participants completed a post-treatment semi-structured interview.
RESULTS:
Quantitative data indicated a large effect size difference between responders and non-responders for pre- to post-treatment change in standardized measures of pain acceptance and catastrophizing, and a small to medium effect size differences on treatment dose indicators. Both groups showed improved psychosocial outcomes. Qualitatively, change in cognitive processes was a more salient qualitative theme within treatment responders; both groups commented on the importance of non-specific therapeutic factors. Barriers to mindfulness meditation were also commented on by participants across groups.
CONCLUSIONS:
Results indicated that change in pain related cognitions during an MBCT intervention for headache pain is a key factor underlying treatment response.
Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
KEYWORDS:
Headache pain, Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, Mixed-methods analysis, Responder analysis
PMID: 24731899
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