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Journal of Holistic Nursing
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Loving-Kindness Meditation for Chronic Low Back Pain

Results From a Pilot Trial

James W. Carson, Ph.D.

Duke University Medical Center

Francis J. Keefe, Ph.D.

Duke University Medical Center

Thomas R. Lynch, Ph.D.

Duke University Medical Center

Kimberly M. Carson, M.P.H., R.Y.T.

Duke University Medical Center

Veeraindar Goli, M.D.

Duke University Medical Center

Anne Marie Fras, M.D.

Duke University Medical Center

Steven R. Thorp, Ph.D.

VA San Diego Healthcare System

Purpose: Loving-kindness meditation has been used for centuries in the Buddhist tradition to develop love and transform anger into compassion. This pilot study tested an 8-week loving-kindness program for chronic low back pain patients. Method: Patients (N = 43) were randomly assigned to the intervention or standard care. Standardized measures assessed patients’ pain, anger, and psychological distress. Findings: Post and follow-up analyses showed significant improvements in pain and psychological distress in the loving-kindness group, but no changes in the usual care group. Multilevel analyses of daily data showed that more loving-kindness practice on a given day was related to lower pain that day and lower anger the next day. Conclusions: Preliminary results suggest that the loving-kindness program can be beneficial in reducing pain, anger, and psychological distress in patients with persistent low back pain. Implications: Clinicians may find loving-kindness meditation helpful in the treatment of patients with persistent pain.

Key Words: meditation • chronic low back pain • pain • anger • psychological distress

Journal of Holistic Nursing, Vol. 23, No. 3, 287-304 (2005)
DOI: 10.1177/0898010105277651
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