Acceptability and Feasibility of a Mindfulness-Based Intervention for Pain Catastrophizing among Persons with Sickle Cell Disease.

This was a pilot study, and the planned comparison of pain catastrophizing change was not done because only 34 of 60 randomized participants provided outcome data. Missing data and dropout were high: 26 participants did not provide any baseline or follow-up assessment data, 14 of 40 mindfulness participants never attended a session, and 12 of 20 control participants discontinued. The study was single-site and unblinded, and all participants were African American/Black. Randomization happened before baseline assessments were completed, which the authors say may have compromised the randomization process. Participants could complete assessments online or by mail over a lenient time window, and the authors say this contributed to missing baseline and follow-up data. The mindfulness sessions did not have a consistent day or start time, and the authors say this may have affected attendance. Baseline pain catastrophizing scores were not in the clinically significant range, so the paper does not show how patients with higher catastrophizing would respond. Participants were paid for assessments, and the authors say this may have inflated participation rates.

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Do not conclude that mindfulness reduced pain catastrophizing in adults with sickle cell disease. The study did not run the planned comparison between groups because only 34 of 60 randomized participants provided outcome data.