Mind-Body Interventions and the Management of Chronic Non-Malignant Pain
1Patanjali Research Foundation, Haridwar, India
2All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
3Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute, Seatlle, USA
Mind-Body Interventions and the Management of Chronic Non-Malignant Pain
Description
Chronic pain (CP) has considerable personal and socioeconomic impact since it remains difficult to treat. Mind-body interventions (MBI), such as biofeedback, meditation, imagery, yoga, Tai Chi, and Qi gong, are increasingly common options for the management of CP and its psychological consequences. These interventions have been used therapeutically with varying levels of success in the management of chronic non-malignant pain (CNMP), including headaches, lower back pain, neck pain, fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis, among other conditions. Benefits include better pain management, improved function, and positive psychological changes.
Challenges exist in the use of MBIs for CP in pediatric clinics, especially with very young children who could have difficulties understanding or following instructions. In geriatric populations with chronic pain and limited mobility, there are difficulties in using MBIs based on somatic movements. In such cases, the MBIs can be modified to manage difficulties arising from the specific challenges of the target patient group. In all categories of persons, attention is needed on the optimal use of MBIs in pain management. Finally, all MBIs need to be examined for efficacy and safety in CP management with rigorously designed trials.
This Special Issue welcomes original research, especially randomized clinical trials (RCTs), evaluating the use of MBIs for chronic non-malignant pain, studies advancing our understanding of the mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of an intervention for CNMP, and studies focused on the specific effects of CNMP on a person’s life, such as psychological consequences, function, daily activities, and overall quality of life. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses on MBIs for CNMP are welcome.
Potential topics include but are not limited to the following:
- Mechanisms underlying the benefits of MBIs for CNMP
- MBIs, CNMP, and quality of life
- MBIs, CNMP, and life satisfaction, eudemonia, and other positive psychological indicators
- MBIs, CNMP, and daily life activities and level of functioning
- MBIs and CNMP in geriatric medicine
- MBIs for chronic pain in pediatric and adolescent populations
- MBIs and CNMP in repetitive stress injuries due to occupational over-use
- RCTs of remote delivery of MBIs for chronic pain
- MBIs, CNMP, insomnia, and quality of sleep
- MBIs, CNMP, and physical inactivity and its consequences
- MBIs, CNMP, and negative psychological consequences
- MBIs in neuralgia
- MBIs in chronic pain as a co-morbidity with other conditions
- MBIs in chronic pain related to autoimmune diseases
- Evidence-informed theoretical articles related to MBIs and pain relief or improvement in functional status