Facilitating Older-Adults' Resilience: A Pilot study of a Mindfulness Intervention for Chronic Pain

INTERVENTION: The mindfulness intervention will include formal and informal mindfulness techniques, and psycho‐education about the relationship between chronic pain and the mind and the body. Intervention‐group participants' will be seen in a group format for one hour a week, for 6‐weeks. The intervention group sessions will be facilitated by a provisionally registered psychologist. Formal mindfulness techniques will include a) a sitting breathing meditation, b) a body scan meditation, and c) a three‐minute mini‐meditation. Non‐formal mindfulness techniques will include activities from daily living ‐ such as drinking a cup of tea or coffee. Psycho‐education will involve describing aspects of the biopsychosocial model of pain, and elucidating the relationship between thoughts, emotions, and responses (physical and behavioural). CONDITION: Chronic Pain PRIMARY OUTCOME: Mean pain severity and pain interference will be measured by the brief pain inventory ‐ short form. SECONDARY OUTCOME: Mean 'present‐moment awareness' and 'acceptance' scores will be measured using the Philadelphia mindfulness scale. Mean depression score as measured by the geriatric depression scale ‐ short form. INCLUSION CRITERIA: 1) Experiencing chronic or recurrent nociceptive or neuropathic pain for at least 3‐months; 2) A non‐demented status; and, 3) agreement to wear own sensory hearing and/or visual aids for group participation.