Pointing Beyond the Pain Perception Box: Treating Chronic Pain by Modulating Phenomenological and Psycho-Physiological Indices of Self-Transcendence

INSTITUTION: University of Utah

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: Adam Hanley

CO-INVESTIGATORS: Eric Garland (University of Utah), Justin Hudak (University of Utah), and Gary Donaldson (University of Utah)

REGION: USA

Overview:

This project will determine if mindfulness training designed to encourage self-transcendence can lead to long-term pain relief.

Abstract:

Chronic pain is a significant, global health issue that is difficult to treat due to pain often becoming entangled in a patient's sense of self. Mindfulness-based interventions appear capable of helping individuals disentangle chronic pain from their sense of self through self-transcendent experiences. In fact, mindfulness practices that facilitate self-transcendence have been reported to lead to complete pain cessation. However, rigorous experimental research is needed to identify the most effective mindfulness instructions for helping chronic pain patients achieve self-transcendence. Direct pointing instruction, an ancient but understudied practice, shows promise in this regard by encouraging de-identification with self-specifying information and accessing a non-dual awareness. This project aims to compare the effectiveness of traditional mindful breathing instruction with mindful breathing + direct pointing instruction in 138 chronic pain patients. The hypothesis is that direct pointing instruction will enable patients to move beyond their pain perception box, dissociating their self-schemas from pain and disrupting the chronic experience of pain.