Mind over pain: study tests if noticing pain fluctuations eases suffering
NCT ID NCT03939949
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study from Harvard University tested whether mindfully noticing changes in pain throughout the day can help people with chronic pain feel more in control and reduce pain intensity. 300 adults with chronic pain for at least six months were split into groups that either paid close attention to pain changes or not. The goal was to see if this simple mental shift could improve well-being and quality of life without medication.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
Active substance
mindfulness-based attention to pain variability
What this could lead to
If it works, this could offer a simple, drug-free way to help people with chronic pain feel more in control and experience less pain.
What could go wrong
This is a small, early-stage behavioral study, not a large clinical trial. Results may not apply to everyone with chronic pain, and the effect may be modest.
Disclaimer
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This is a summary of
the original study
.
Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
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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
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Locations
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Brigham and Women's Hospital
Boston, Massachusetts, 02115, United States
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Harvard University
Cambridge, Massachusetts, 02138, United States
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New England Physiatry
Stoneham, Massachusetts, 02180, United States
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Tufts Medical Center
Boston, Massachusetts, 02111, United States