Patient Outcomes Improve in a Pragmatic Implementation Pilot Study of Mindful Awareness in Body-Oriented Therapy (MABT) for Chronic Pain
Author: Cynthia J Price1, Dana Dharmakaya Colgan2,3, Erin Abu-Rish Blakeney1, Jacquelyn S Pennings4,5,6, Claudia Davidson4,5, Kathryn A Hansen7
Affiliation:
1 Department of Biobehavioral Nursing and Health Informatics, School of Nursing, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
2 Department of Neurology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA.
3 Helfgott Research Center, National University of Natural Medicine, Portland, OR, USA.
4 Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.
5 Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.
6 Department of Biostatistics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.
7 School of Nursing, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.
Conference/Journal: Glob Adv Integr Med Health
Date published: 2025 Mar 24
Other:
Volume ID: 14 , Pages: 27536130251331029 , Special Notes: doi: 10.1177/27536130251331029. , Word Count: 255
Objectives:
Non-pharmacologic approaches are now considered best practice for the treatment of chronic pain. The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate patient responses to a newly integrated clinic service called Mindful Awareness in Body-oriented Therapy (MABT) at a chronic pain clinic. MABT is designed to develop interoceptive sensibility for improved well-being and emotion regulation.
Methods:
A one-group repeated measures design was used to examine MABT referral and delivery follow-through feasibility and change on health outcomes among chronic pain patients. Upon referral, participants were scheduled for the MABT program involving eight individual sessions with one of the clinic massage therapists trained in MABT. Measures were administered at baseline, post-intervention (3 months) and at 6 month follow-up). Outcome measures assessed physical and mental health distress, interoceptive awareness, and emotional well-being. Analyses included descriptive statistics and repeated measures ANOVA.
Results:
Seventy patients were referred and 41 received at least one MABT session. Thirty patients (73%) completed the MABT intervention. Statistically and/or clinically significant improvements were identified for most subscales of the PROMIS-29 (the primary outcome), including Physical Function, Fatigue, Anxiety, Sleep Disturbance, Social Roles, and Pain Interference. Improvements in interoceptive sensibility and emotion regulation difficulties also demonstrated statistically significant and large effects.
Discussion:
This pilot study demonstrates the feasibility of MABT referral and delivery follow-through when delivered in a real-life context. Significant improvements with large effects on outcomes in response to the MABT intervention program offers a promising non-pharmacological approach for chronic pain patients.
Keywords: chronic pain; integrative medicine; interoception; intervention; massage; mindfulness; pragmatic trial.
PMID: 40144490 PMCID: PMC11938458 DOI: 10.1177/27536130251331029
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