Both mindfulness meditation and expectancy effects are known to reduce pain intensity, pain unpleasantness and pain catastrophizing, but it is unknown whether and how expectancy effects contribute to the overall effect of mindfulness meditation on these outcomes, especially during significant global events such as the coronavirus pandemic. This study includes four interrelated aims that will probe these effects and interactions.
As many as 1 in 4 Australians experience chronic pain. Further, it is yet unknown the effects
of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on Australians with or at risk of chronic pain. There
is a critical need for the development and evaluation of fast-acting non-pharmaceutical
treatments that have the capacity to target the multidimensional nature of chronic pain. This
study will investigate how mindfulness meditation and common expectancy effects interact and
will further characterise the mechanisms underlying these effects. Results will ultimately
lead to targeted interventions that more effectively engage cognitive mechanisms associated
with pain attenuation.
Other: Meditation (1 x 20-minute guided audio training)
Participants will complete a single session of 20-minutes online guided audio-delivered training session of one of the four conditions.
Inclusion Criteria:
- At least 18 years of age
- Recurrent pain (two or more days in the last month)
- Chronic pain (pain most days in the last three months)
- Able to read and understand English
Exclusion Criteria:
- Not experiencing recurrent or chronic pain
- Incomplete or invalid data (response time < 32 minutes, failing attention checks)
- Completing the 20-minute training module in < 18 minutes or > 90 minutes
Health and Behavioural Sciences
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Melissa Day, PhD, Principal Investigator
The University of Queensland