Mind-body therapies for opioid-treated pain

December 31, 2019   |   Evidence in Integrative Healthcare

A systematic review and meta-analysis of 4,212 patients, published in a November 4, 2019 JAMA Internal Medicine publication shows that mind-body awareness therapies (MTBs) are emerging as potential tools for addressing the opioid crisis. Conclusions show MTBs are associated with moderate improvements in pain and small reductions in opioid dose. Integrative care providers who add MTBs to manual therapies may show more significant improvements associated with pain and opioid reduction when they combine manual therapy with MTBs. Providers may choose to add any of several therapies in this category (within scope), including but not limited to meditation, guided visualization, correct breathing exercises, and cognitive behavioral therapy.