Acupuncture Combined With Mindfulness: ACUMIND

Acupuncture Combined With Mindfulness in the Context of Chronic Pain

This study aims to gather preliminary data regarding acupuncture and mindfulness in the treatment of chronic pain.

Neither acupuncture nor mindfulness have been studied with respect to chronic pain in an outpatient integrative health (IH) oncology clinic in the USA. Likewise, the combination of acupuncture and mindfulness combined as not been studied. Given that both acupuncture and mindfulness have demonstrated some analgesic relief in an acute pain setting, each merit study for pain relief in an outpatient setting.

The investigators are evaluating the impact of two different acupuncture approaches for patients reporting chronic pain. Acupuncture will be provided by a Licensed Acupuncturist for patients reporting chronic pain. Participants will be randomized to one of two treatments - acupuncture as usual or acupuncture plus mindfulness.

The investigators will collect data regarding chronic pain, interoceptive awareness, emotion regulation, and acceptability. The study is open to participants with any etiology and any location of chronic pain.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patient is age 18 or older.
• Patient is experiencing pain (rated ≥3 on a 0-10 scale) lasting for three or more months.
• Able to provide informed consent and willing to sign an approved consent form that conforms to federal and institutional guidelines.
• ONLY FOR THOSE WITH A DIAGNOSIS OF CANCER: ECOG status of 0 (asymptomatic), 1 (symptomatic but completely ambulatory) or 2 (symptomatic, <50% in bed during the day).

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patient has received 5 or more acupuncture treatments in the last 2 months.