SynthesisPain research & management2026
The Effects of Mindfulness-Based Programs on Pain-Related Cognitions in Individuals With Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Synthesis in Pain research & management, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- The Effects of Mindfulness-Based Programs on Pain-Related Cognitions in Individuals With Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Pain research & management · 2026Pooled it
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
7 authors.
Funding
Abstract
objectivesChronic musculoskeletal pain is a complex condition influenced by psychological factors, including pain-related cognitions. This systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials aimed to evaluate the effects of mindfulness-based programs on pain-related cognitions in individuals with chronic musculoskeletal pain. Secondary outcomes included depression, anxiety, psychological distress, pain intensity, disability, intervention adherence, and mindfulness-related adverse events.
methodsEight databases were searched from inception to January 2026. Evidence was synthesized using random-effects models and reported as standardized mean differences with 95% confidence intervals. Risk of bias was assessed using the revised Cochrane risk of bias tool. Evidence certainty was rated using GRADE.
resultsFifty-one studies (n = 5997) were included and had a moderate-to-high risk of bias. Compared to no intervention, mindfulness-based programs reduced pain catastrophizing (SMD: 1.00, 95% CI: 0.56-1.45) and increased pain acceptance (SMD: 1.12, 95% CI: 0.31-1.92) post-intervention. They also reduced depression (SMD: 0.94, 95% CI: 0.50-1.38), anxiety (SMD: 1.08, 95% CI: 0.57-1.59), psychological distress (SMD: 0.75, 95% CI: 0.12-1.38), pain intensity (SMD: 0.80, 95% CI: 0.38-1.23), and disability (SMD: 0.48, 95% CI: 0.04-0.92) compared to no intervention. Minimal significant differences were observed between the effect of mindfulness-based programs and cognitive behavioral therapy on these outcomes. DISCUSSION: Mindfulness-based programs appear to be an effective self-management strategy for individuals with chronic musculoskeletal pain. However, the certainty of evidence is mostly low with intervention adherence varying. Future research should clarify the direction and nature of the relationship between adherence and outcomes. Reporting of mindfulness-related adverse events was insufficient to evaluate safety; future trials should incorporate comprehensive measurement.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.