Mindfulness for Pain and Suicide

August 3, 2026 updated by: Canandaigua VA Medical Center

A Pilot Study on Mindfulness for Pain and Mental Health Outcomes

The proposed study will assess the feasibility and acceptability of a mindfulness-based intervention to reduce functional impairment from chronic pain and risk of suicide.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

The investigators are seeking to develop a combined intervention, MBCT-S/P, to focus on both improving functioning and mitigating suicide risk in veterans with chronic pain. The investigators plan to test the new manual's feasibility and acceptability in a sample of veterans experiencing chronic pain and suicidal ideation. Participants will be randomized to either the MBCT-S/P condition (n=38) or the Education control condition (n=38) to assess additional aspects of study feasibility. The investigators also plan to assess a variety of clinical outcomes including suicidal ideation, pain interference in activities, and opioid use. Participants will complete questionnaires pre-treatment, and 1-, 3-, and 6-months post-treatment.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
76

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • New York
      • Canandaigua, New York, United States, 14424
        • Department of Veterans Affairs Center of Excellence for Suicide Prevention

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • English-speaking veterans
  • Ages 18 years and older
  • Understand informed consent
  • Report pain that occurs on at least half the days for six months or more
  • Score at least a 4 on each item of the three items on a brief pain intensity and interference measure
  • To meet the minimum threshold for suicide risk, veterans must meet at least one of the following: (1) endorse at least a 1 ("several days") on item 9 ("thoughts of you would be better off dead, or thoughts of hurting yourself in some way" in the past 2 weeks) of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), (2) endorse at least "death ideation" in the last 3 months as measured by the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale, or (3) report a suicide attempt in the last 6 months.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • An active severe substance use disorder (SUD)
  • Documented schizophrenia, active psychosis, or mania
  • Upcoming surgeries
  • Uncontrolled medical conditions
  • Intent to carry out a plan for suicide.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)
MBCT delivered over the course of 10, ~60 minute sessions
Behavioral: Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)
10 sessions focused on increasing mindfulness awareness to address thoughts, emotions, and behaviors that maintain functional impairment and risk of suicide.
Active Comparator: Health Education
Health education sessions delivered over the course of 10, ~60 minute sessions
Behavioral: Health Education
Health education provides information on the importance and benefits of and guidelines for living a healthy lifestyle.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Treatment Acceptability
Time Frame: 1-month post-treatment
The Abbreviated Acceptability Rating Profile assesses the extent to which participants agree with 8 statements about the intervention. Scores range from 1 to 6 with higher scores indicating higher acceptability. Data are from the 1-month follow-up assessment.
1-month post-treatment
Suicidal Ideation Intensity
Time Frame: 6-month post treatment follow-up
Suicide ideation intensity will be assessed using the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale Ideation intensity subscale. Scores range from 2 to 25 with higher scores indicating greater intensity of ideation. Data are from the 6-month follow-up assessment.
6-month post treatment follow-up
Depression
Time Frame: 6 months post-treatment follow-up
The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 was used to assess depression symptoms. Scores range from 0 to 27 with higher scores indicating greater severity of depression. Data are from the 6-month follow-up assessment.
6 months post-treatment follow-up
Interpersonal Needs
Time Frame: 6-months post-treatment follow-up
The Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire was used to assessed interpersonal needs. Scores range from 12 to 84 with higher scores indicating greater conflict with interpersonal needs. Data are from the 6-month follow-up assessment.
6-months post-treatment follow-up
Pain Interference
Time Frame: baseline to 6 months post-treatment follow-up
Pain interference was measured using the Brief Pain Inventory. Scores range from 0 to 10 with higher scores indicating greater pain-related interference in activities. Data are from the 6-month follow-up assessment.
baseline to 6 months post-treatment follow-up

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Physical Health-related Quality of Life
Time Frame: 6 months post-treatment follow-up
The Veterans Rand (VR)-12 was used to assess physical health-related quality of life. Scores fall between 20 and 60 in clinical populations with higher scores indicating higher physical health-related quality of life. Data are from the 6-month follow-up assessment.
6 months post-treatment follow-up
Pain Intensity
Time Frame: baseline to 6 months post-treatment follow-up
Pain intensity was assessed using the Brief Pain Inventory Pain Severity subscale. Scores range from 0 to 10 with higher scores indicating more severe pain intensity. Data are from the 6-month follow-up assessment.
baseline to 6 months post-treatment follow-up
Mental Health-related Quality of Life
Time Frame: 6-months post treatment assessment
The Veterans Rand (VR)-12 was used to assess mental health-related quality of life. Scores fall between 20 and 60 in clinical populations with higher scores indicating higher mental health-related quality of life. Data are from the 6-month follow-up assessment.
6-months post treatment assessment

Other Outcome Measures

Other Outcome Measures

For clinical trials, a planned measurement described in the protocol that is used to determine the effect of an intervention/treatment on participants. For observational studies, a measurement or observation that is used to describe patterns of diseases or traits, or associations with exposures, risk factors, or treatment. Types of outcome measures include primary outcome measure and secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Mindfulness
Time Frame: 6 months post-treatment follow-up
We used the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ) to assess mindfulness. Scores range from 39 to 195 with higher scores indicating higher mindfulness. Data are from the 6-month follow-up assessment.
6 months post-treatment follow-up
Pain Acceptance
Time Frame: 6 months post-treatment follow-up
Pain acceptance was assessed using the Chronic Pain Acceptance Questionnaire (CPAQ) scores range from 0 to 120 with higher scores indicating greater acceptance of pain with higher scores indicating greater pain acceptance.
6 months post-treatment follow-up
Pain Catastrophizing
Time Frame: baseline to 6 months post-treatment follow-up
Pain catastrophizing was assessed using the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS). Scores range from 0 to 52 with higher scores indicate greater pain catastrophizing. Data are from the 6-month follow-up assessment.
baseline to 6 months post-treatment follow-up
Fear of Movement
Time Frame: baseline to 6 months post-treatment follow-up
Fear of movement due to pain will be measured using the Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia. The scores range from 17-68 with higher scores indicating indicating greater fear of movement. Data are from the 6-month follow-up assessment.
baseline to 6 months post-treatment follow-up

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Canandaigua VA Medical Center

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
March 6, 2023

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
February 28, 2026

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
February 28, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
January 28, 2022

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
March 17, 2022

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
March 18, 2022

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
August 25, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
August 3, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
August 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 1600604

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

YES

IPD Plan Description

Participant data is available upon request as part of scientific collaboration.

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

Cookie Settings

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. For more details carefully read our Privacy and Cookies Policy. ...>>>You can change your preferences or withdraw your consent at any time by deleting the cookies from your website or computer as described in the policy. Please accept it and choose your preferences by ticking the corresponding boxes in the "Manage Settings" section below. Please carefully read our Terms of Service before you proceed with using any part of this website.
«Manage Settings