Mindfulness-based therapy for managing pain before spine surgery

A Pilot Proof of Concept, Single-Center Study of the Effects of Telephone-Delivered Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT-T) on Preoperative Pain Catastrophizing and Pain Outcomes After Spine Surgery

Not applicable Interventional NYU Langone Health · NCT05888025

This study is testing a phone-based mindfulness therapy to help people who worry a lot about pain before they have spine surgery.

Quick facts

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment25 (estimated)
Ages18 Years to 75 Years
SexAll
SponsorNYU Langone Health Academic / other
Locations2 sites (Brooklyn, New York and 1 other locations)
Trial IDNCT05888025 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study aims to adapt and evaluate a telephone-delivered mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT-T) for patients experiencing high levels of pain catastrophizing prior to undergoing spine surgery. In the first phase, a focus group will help tailor the therapy to the specific needs of the study population. The second phase involves a single-arm trial where participants will receive four weekly sessions of MBCT-T and will be monitored for pain outcomes for two weeks after their surgery.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are patients scheduled for lumbar spine surgery who exhibit high levels of pain catastrophizing.

Not a fit: Patients with cognitive impairments or severe psychiatric disorders may not benefit from this therapy.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could help reduce pain catastrophizing and improve postoperative pain outcomes for patients undergoing spine surgery.

How similar studies have performed: While mindfulness-based interventions have shown promise in other contexts, this specific adaptation for preoperative pain catastrophizing is relatively novel.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Scheduled for one or two level lumbar spine surgery requiring an inpatient stay as well as patients having ambulatory 1 or 2 level lumbar spine surgeries
* PCS score ≥ 20
* Able to provide voluntary informed consent
* Telephone access
* Internet access

Exclusion Criteria:

* Non-English speaking
* Cognitively impaired, by history
* Bipolar disorder
* Borderline personality disorder
* Active post-traumatic stress disorder
* Schizoaffective disorder or any other disorder characterized by delusions or hallucinations
* History of self-harm or suicidality in past three months

Where this trial is running

Brooklyn, New York and 1 other locations

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Pain
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 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.