Mindfulness meets pain: can meditation improve daily life for chronic pain sufferers?
NCT ID NCT03800654
First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tested a new program called Mindful Action for Pain (MAP) in 126 veterans with chronic pain. MAP combines mindfulness meditation with techniques from acceptance and commitment therapy to help people better manage pain and improve daily function. The goal was to see if MAP could reduce how much pain interferes with life, compared to standard cognitive behavioral therapy.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Mindful Action for Pain (MAP) – a behavioral program combining mindfulness meditation with acceptance and commitment therapy techniques
- What this could lead to
- If successful, MAP could offer a new, effective way to help people with chronic pain improve their daily functioning and quality of life.
- What could go wrong
- This was a small pilot study (126 veterans) testing feasibility, not a large-scale trial. The results may not apply to the general population, and the benefits over standard therapy are uncertain.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Get updates
Get notified about this study
Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for CHRONIC PAIN are added.
By submitting, you agree to our Terms of use
Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA
San Diego, California, 92161-0002, United States
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
- Mind-Body physio program aims to tackle chronic pain and depression together
- Can we decode the different types of pain in multiple sclerosis?
- Can yoga ease the pain of endometriosis after surgery?
- A simple pressure test before surgery might reveal your risk of chronic pain
- Rewiring the brain to fight back pain?
- Can a pain drug help you walk better with knee arthritis?