We
hypothesised a 10 minute mindfulness based intervention performed by a novice
therapist would have a beneficial effect on pain responses in naive
participants. Twenty-four participants were randomly assigned to the control
group or mindfulness meditation group. The control group sat quietly for 10
minutes in between two cold pressor tasks. The mindfulness meditation
intervention group practiced 10 minutes of mindfulness meditation in between
cold-pressor tasks following standardised mindfulness of breathing meditation
technique instructions provided by a male investigator. A significant
interaction effect was found between anxiety towards pain ratings (pre-intervention
vs. post-intervention) and intervention (F = 6.29, p =
0.02). There was a significant decrease (t = 4.07, p = 0.002) in anxiety
towards pain ratings in the mindfulness meditation group following
intervention. A significant interaction effect was found between pain threshold
times (pre-intervention vs. post-intervention) and intervention (F = 18.45, p
< 0.001). There was a significant increase (t = -4.38, p =0.001) in pain threshold
times in the mindfulness meditation group following intervention. A significant
interaction effect was found between pain tolerance times (pre-intervention vs. post-intervention) and intervention
(F = 18.34, p < 0.001). A significant increase (t = -4.20, p = 0.001) in pain tolerance times in the
mindfulness meditation group following intervention was also found. The results
suggest a single 10 minute mindfulness meditation intervention administered by
a novice therapist can improve pain tolerance, pain threshold and decrease
anxiety towards pain in na?ve healthy university aged individuals.
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