The Effects of Mindfulness Training on Pain Regulation, Negative Affect, Attention, and Social Stress

Completed · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Focus on Pain Regulation Mechanisms, Social Stress Mechanisms, Basic Affective Mechanisms, Attention Mechanisms, Brain Mechanisms, Immune Mechanisms, Endocrine Mechanisms

In brief

The project's objective is to explore the impact of Mindfulness-Based-Stress-Reduction (MBSR) on pain regulation, social stress, basic affective and attention functions, and on the brain, immune, and endocrine mechanisms that subserve these processes. Specifically, the investigators hypothesize that participants undergoing MBSR training will show decreased emotional distress on self-report measures, increased sustained attention on a behavioral task, decreased stress levels on a social stress test, decreased general psychosocial stress as indexed by diurnal salivary cortisol profile, changes in inflammatory response, modulation of cellular aging, and different neural patterns in response to thermal pain and aversive visual stimuli as indexed by functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). To test these hypotheses, the study will recruit 50 participants through the UW-Madison Integrative Medicine Program. All participants will be randomly assigned either to an 8-week MBSR program or to an 8-week training program in health-enhancement. At the conclusion of the study, participants will be invited to participate to the second class should they be interested. Participants will complete self-report questionnaires, behavioral tasks, fMRI scanning, cortisol sampling, and blood sampling before training begins, after the first program ends, and again four months after the first program ends and prior to the second program. If hypotheses are supported, the study may benefit participants by reducing their psychological distress, increasing their well-being, and helping them better manage pain and aversive stimuli. There are no other direct benefits to participants. Potential risks associated with fMRI include ferromagnetic collision, neurostimulation effects, and psychological discomfort. Potential risks to subjects include slight potential discomfort in providing saliva samples, discomfort of painful thermal stimulation, stress associated with the Trier Social Stress Test, some psychological discomfort from viewing disturbing photographs as part of the compassion fMRI study, and breach of confidentiality. Consent for the present study will entail both written and verbal descriptions of the protocol. Subjects will be informed that their participation is completely voluntary, and that they can withdraw at any time.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT01301105

Run by

University of Wisconsin, Madison

People needed

80

Starts

2005-10-01

Expected to finish

2007-04-01

Last updated by the study team

2015-10-05

Who can join

Age: 18 and older, up to 65. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.

You may qualify if…

• 1 Risk Factors
• Able to lie still in the scanner for 90 minutes
• Weighs under 300 pounds
• 2 Factors impacting on the outcome measures
• 18-65 years old
• Right-handed
• No previous experience with meditation.
• No daily practice with other mind-body techniques (e.g., yoga, tai-chi, but previous exposure to yoga is okay)
• In good general health as determined by the investigator
• 3 Logistic Issues
• Able to walk
• Able to understand and speak English
• Able to provide written consent prior to admission
• Able to see without glasses (as if looking through binoculars)

You may not qualify if…

• 1 Risk Factors
• Any metallic implants, such as prostheses that cannot be removed, aneurysm clip-S, dental or orthodontic (filings are okay), or orthopedic (e.g., pins, rods, screws, nails) [okay with doctors note]
• Any electronic implants, such as cardiac pacemakers, cardiac defibrillator, artificial heart valve, cardiac pace wires,
• Lens implants prior to 1983
• Breast/penile, electrodes, neurostimulators/biostimulators, pumps (e.g. drug infusion device), bone or socket implants (Check with PI or MR technician)
• Any type of prosthesis
• Any permanent cosmetics (e.g., eyeliner) prior to 1975
• Any tattoos on upper body prior to 1975
• Any irremovable non plastic body piercing(s)
• Has ever worked as an occupational metal grinder without protective glasses
• Has ever worked with metal as a hobby without protective glasses
• Has ever had or sought medical attention for metal in the eyes [requires orbit x-ray]
• Has ever has metal fragments removed from eyes [requires orbit x-ray]
• Has ever been struck by a gun shot, B.B. or shrapnel, and the bullet stuck [judgement]
• Has a history of any metal in body
• Diabetes
• Peripheral vascular disease, peripheral arterial disease, Raynaud's disease, or any other diagnosed circulatory disorders
• Body mass index (BMI) below 18.5
• Any involuntary motor disorders
• Has a cochlear implant
• Wears a hearing aid that cannot be taken out (Check with PI or MR technician)
• Wears a hearing aid
• Wears dentures that cannot be removed or contain metal
• A subject who is claustrophobic
• A female subject who is pregnant or has an intrauterine device (IUD)

Where it is running

• University of Wisconsin-Madison — Madison, Wisconsin, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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