NIH-funded research NIH-funded research

Mindfulness treatment for chronic low back pain in primary care settings

Official title: Group-Based Mindfulness for Patients with Chronic Low Back Pain in the Primary Care

Funded at Boston Medical Center · NIH-10694862 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study is testing a mindfulness program called OPTIMUM to see if it can help people with chronic low back pain manage their pain better without using medications, and it's designed for patients visiting their primary care doctors.

More Chronic Low-back Pain research and trials

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionBoston Medical Center
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Boston, United States)
Project startSeptember 28, 2019
Project endAugust 31, 2025
Funding year2023
Award (this year)$1,573,624
NIH project number5UH3AT010621-05
Project IDNIH-10694862 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Ideal candidates for this research are adults experiencing chronic low back pain who are seeking alternative treatment options.

Less likely to help

Patients with acute back pain or those who do not have access to the participating healthcare sites may not benefit from this research.

What this research studies

This research investigates the effectiveness of a mindfulness-based program specifically designed for patients suffering from chronic low back pain (cLBP) in primary care environments. The program, known as OPTIMUM, aims to integrate mindfulness-based stress reduction techniques into routine clinical practice to improve patient outcomes. By conducting a pragmatic clinical trial across multiple healthcare sites, the research seeks to evaluate how this nonpharmacologic approach can be effectively implemented and its impact on pain management. Patients will participate in group-based mindfulness sessions, which are intended to help them manage their pain more effectively without relying on medications.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide patients with a valuable non-drug approach to managing chronic low back pain, potentially reducing reliance on opioids.

How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that mindfulness-based interventions can be effective for pain management, indicating a promising approach for this study.

Where this research is happening

  • Boston Medical Center
    Boston, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Morone, Natalia E. — Boston Medical Center
  • Study coordinator: Morone, Natalia E.

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.