Adjunctive Mindfulness During Opioid Tapering for patientS With Chronic Pain (The AMOS Study)

Adjunctive Mindfulness During Opioid Tapering for Patients With Chronic Pain

This study is a Randomized Controlled Trial exploring the effects of a Mindfulness interventions in reducing pain interference and opioid dose in patients with Chronic Low Back Pain. A total of 200 opioid-using patients with chronic pain, male and female participants will be enrolled, with a need for 160 completers. Patient will be randomly assigned into the Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement or the Psychoeducation comparison control group.

Inclusion criteria:

• age>18yo
• Chronic Low Back Pain as seen on medical history as well as score of >3 on pain visual analog scale (VAS) at the start of experimental sessions.
• receiving prescription opioids for three or more months and planning to start tapering their opioids with their provider.
• willing to be randomized to one of the two behavioral treatment. Patients referred or self-referred to the study from an outside clinic will also be able to participate (we will be in contact with their prescribing provider)
• able and willing to perform/tolerate pain procedures (e.g., QST)
• able to communicate fluently in English
• able to use a smartphone or laptop for the virtual therapy program

Exclusion criteria:

• Current illicit substance use (e.g marijuana use will be exempted) at screening or during trial as verified by urine toxicology screen and/or self-report for all participants;
• Medical condition known to influence QST or participation in the MORE intervention; serious psychiatric condition;
• regular meditation practice
• cognitive impairment
• pregnancy
• lack of English fluency
• severe OUD
• inability to provide informed consent.