Mindfulness-Based Group Therapy for Chronic Pain Management in Older Adults


Author: Mariko Foulk1, Marcos Montagnini2, James Fitzgerald3, Berit Ingersoll-Dayton4

Affiliation: <sup>1</sup> Department of Social Work /Geriatrics Center, Michigan Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbo, Michigan, USA.

<sup>2</sup> Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbo, Michigan, USA.

<sup>3</sup> Department of Learning Health Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.

<sup>4</sup> School of Social Work, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.
Conference/Journal: Clin Gerontol
Date published: 2023 Jun 28
Other:
  Special Notes: doi: 10.1080/07317115.2023.2229307.   ,  Word Count: 208  
    Objectives:

There were two quality improvement goals for this project: (1) to evaluate the outcomes of an 8-week geriatric-focused mindfulness-based group therapy program for chronic pain management called "Mindfulness-based Chronic Pain Care" offered at a senior community center affiliated with a geriatric primary care clinic, and (2) to obtain feedback from participants to make relevant modifications for future groups.



Methods:

The program consisted of eight 150-minute weekly sessions. Thirteen community-dwelling older adults aged 60 and older participated in the program. The study utilized a non-randomized control-group pretest-posttest design. Participants completed pre- and post-program evaluations measuring pain and related psychosocial outcomes and were also asked to evaluate the importance of the group. Intervention and control groups were compared by t-test, chi-square likelihood ratio, Fischer's exact test, and multivariate analysis of variance with repeated measures.



Results:

There were statistically significant improvements in three areas: 1) increased activity level, 2) increased "pain willingness," and 3) decreased generalized anxiety symptoms. Qualitative analysis highlighted how this intervention was important to participants.



Conclusions:

The results of this pilot program indicate promising outcomes for older adults suffering from chronic pain.



Clinical implications:

The Mindfulness-based Chronic Pain Care program was a practical, feasible, and acceptable approach for pain management among program participants.



Keywords: Chronic Pain; group therapy; mindfulness; older adults.



PMID: 37378667 DOI: 10.1080/07317115.2023.2229307