Can mindfulness stick? new study explores barriers for MS pain patients

NCT ID NCT07573241

Knowledge-focused Sponsor: University of Washington Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jul 24, 2026 · Updated 3 times

Summary

This study will enroll 80 adults with multiple sclerosis and chronic pain to take part in an 8-week online Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) program. Researchers want to understand what emotional, physical, and environmental factors make it easier or harder to practice mindfulness daily. Participants will report their practice via a smartphone app, and the goal is to identify barriers and facilitators to improve future mindfulness-based treatments.

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 Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)
What this could lead to: If successful, this could point toward ways to make mindfulness programs more effective for managing chronic pain in multiple sclerosis.
What could go wrong: This is a small, early observational study with no control group, so results may not apply broadly. It focuses on barriers and facilitators, not on proving the therapy works.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

Study facts

What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.

Phase

Not a phased trial

Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.

Participants

About 80 people

The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.

Started

Jul 2026

Expected to finish

Jun 2028

An estimate. End dates often move.

Lead sponsor

Other sponsor

The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.

Who can take part

This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.

Ages

18 years and older

Sex

Anyone

Healthy volunteers

Not accepted

This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.

Show the full entry requirements

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: * Have an MS diagnosis of any subtype per record review * Average pain intensity in past week of at least moderate severity (\>3 on the 0-10 numerical rating scale) * Report pain \>50% of days in the past 3 months. * Are able to comply with study procedures and complete measures independently via self-report (on mobile phone) Exclusion Criteria: * Less than 18 years of age * Score greater than 8 on the Expanded Disability Status Scale * Have significant cognitive impairment as indicated by 1 or more errors on the 6-item Cognitive Screener * Change in disease modifying medications in the past 3 months assessed via self-report (although participants will be considered eligible after the 3-month window) * History of MS relapse within the last 30 days prior to screening assessed via self-report (although participants will be considered eligible after the 3-month window) * Current suicidal ideation with intent or plan as indicated by a score of 1 or higher on the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 suicide item and further assessment with the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (although individuals with suicidal ideation but no intent or plan will be considered eligible) * Currently engaged in psychotherapy for pain assessed via self-report * Currently have a "regular" mindfulness practice defined as \> 3 days per week assessed via self-report * Inability to read or speak English

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

multiple sclerosis

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Multiple sclerosis

How to take part

Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.

The places running it

1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.
The official record

ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.

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A doctor treating you

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Can mindfulness stick? new study explores barriers for MS pain patients

What the study statuses mean