Examining the Effectiveness of Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Treatment on Reducing Pain in Male Patients under Morphine Detoxification phase

Addiction is a progressive disease that has physical and mental consequences. Pain is one of the physical consequences of using drugs. The aim of the present study was examining the effectiveness of mindfulness-based stress reduction treatment on reducing the level of pain in patients under Morphine Detoxification phase.
The present study was quasi- experimental with pre-test, post-test and control group. In a clinical trial, 50 patients under treatment at a Methadone treatment clinic in Tehran, after screening and considering the cut-off scores in Pain Test, were selected and were assigned randomly into experimental and control groups. Participants of experimental group received 1-hour mindfulness-based stress reduction treatment for 8 sessions. Participants of control group only received the routine treatment of the center. McGill Pain Questionnaire was used to assess the level of pain in participants. Data were analyzed using SPSS-18 software and multivariate covariance analysis.
Findings: Results show there is a significant difference between pre-test and post- test scores in participants of experimental group. In other word, mindfulness-based stress reduction treatment was effective on two indicators of sensory pain and neuropathic pain.
Mindfulness-based stress reduction treatment can be used as a basic or complementary treatment in patients dependent to Morphine and this treatment can be of clinical interest in the field of addiction.