Meditation Effects on Brain Function in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Johns Hopkins University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Rheumatoid Arthritis

Treatments: Behavioral: Meditation Intervention A; Behavioral: Meditation Intervention B

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other; NIH

Identifiers

NCT03975595

R61AT010134 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

IRB00192687

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this study is to determine the neural mechanisms supporting meditation-based pain relief in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. The scientific premise is that RA patients' use of different meditation practices during noxious thermal stimulation will alter neural function in brain areas associated with pain, evaluation, and emotional appraisal. The investigators will randomize RA patients to a brief 4-session course of Intervention A (n=20) or Intervention B (n=20). At post-intervention, participants will undergo functional MRI (fMRI) using a perfusion-based arterial spin labeling (ASL) technique during noxious thermal stimulation to determine if the meditation practices differentially alter neural function during noxious thermal stimulation.

Enrollment: 44 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 30 to 70 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Withheld to preserve recruitment integrity.

Exclusion criteria

• Withheld to preserve recruitment integrity.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Other

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

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44 participants in 2 patient groups

Meditation Group A

Active Comparator group

Description:

A brief meditation intervention involving guided breathing and/or attention exercises (further information withheld to preserve blinding). Meditation Group A is the Savoring Meditation Condition. Participants in this condition were trained to generate positive emotions through savoring a pleasant autobiographical memory in a multi-sensory manner.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Meditation Intervention A

Meditation Group B

Active Comparator group

Description:

A brief meditation intervention involving guided breathing and/or attention exercises (further information withheld to preserve blinding). Meditation Group B is the Breathing Meditation Condition. Participants in this condition were trained to relax and body and take deep breaths in a self-directed manner.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Meditation Intervention B