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THERAPIES & TRADITIONS · GUIDE

Meditation and Mindfulness for Chronic Pain, Attention and Depression Relapse Prevention

What trials and guidelines show for mindfulness and meditation in chronic pain, attention and ADHD, and preventing depression relapse, with limits by condition and group.

Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.

Back to Meditation and Mindfulness

Meditation and mindfulness research is not one result. It differs by condition, by program and by what a program was compared with. Many trials compare a course with a waitlist or usual care, and meditation cannot be hidden from the person doing it, so expectation can add to self-reported gains. This page is information only and is not medical advice. It gives the short version for three common questions and points to the detailed pages. Labels used: established, promising but limited, mixed, insufficient evidence.

At a glance

6 findings · 5 supported · 1 limited or unclearThe colour follows the evidence label on each card.

  1. Chronic pain overall

    promising but limited

    Small decrease in pain in 30 trials, low-quality evidence [1]

  2. Chronic low back pain

    promising but limited

    MBSR matched CBT and beat usual care at 26 weeks in one trial of 342 adults [2]

  3. Fibromyalgia

    promising but limited

    Short-term gains on a symptom-impact scale in 10 small trials [3]

  4. Attention, general

    insufficient evidence

    Low evidence of no effect, or insufficient evidence [4]

  5. Adult ADHD symptoms

    promising but limited

    Gains on rated symptoms across 10 controlled studies [5]

  6. Depression relapse (recurrent depression)

    established for this group

    Lower relapse risk with MBCT over 60 weeks [6]

Chronic pain

A 2017 review of 38 randomized trials found low-quality evidence that mindfulness meditation is linked with a small decrease in pain, along with better depression symptoms and quality of life. Only seven of the trials reported on safety. [1] A 2014 JAMA Internal Medicine review of trials with active controls reported moderate evidence for a small pain benefit, and no evidence that meditation programs beat any active treatment such as drugs, exercise or other behavioral therapies. [4]

For chronic low back pain, a US trial gave 342 adults MBSR, CBT or usual care. At 26 weeks, 60.5% of the MBSR group had a meaningful gain in function, compared with 44.1% of the usual-care group, and MBSR and CBT did not differ significantly. [2] NCCIH reports mixed results across pain studies: MBSR helped low back pain in the short term, but not fibromyalgia pain. [7] For the full breakdown by condition, see meditation for chronic pain and meditation for migraine and headache.

Persistent or new pain should be checked by a clinician first. See talking with a health professional.

Attention and ADHD

The 2014 JAMA Internal Medicine review found low evidence of no effect, or insufficient evidence, that meditation programs change attention in clinical populations. [4] NCCIH says studies of meditation for ADHD were not high quality and the evidence is not conclusive. [7]

A 2025 meta-analysis of 10 controlled studies in adults with ADHD found improvement in self-rated and observer-rated ADHD symptoms and in daily functioning, but not in mindfulness skills or in negative or positive mood. It included studies without random assignment. [5] Label: insufficient evidence for attention in general; promising but limited for adult ADHD symptoms. Mindfulness is not a replacement for ADHD assessment or treatment. See meditation for ADHD and attention for more.

Depression relapse prevention

This applies to people with recurrent depression who are in full or partial remission, not to everyone with low mood. A pooled analysis of 9 trials (1,258 patients) found that mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) cut the risk of relapse within 60 weeks compared with no MBCT (hazard ratio 0.69) and compared with active treatments including antidepressants (0.79). [6]

In England, NICE lists group mindfulness such as MBCT as an option for relapse prevention, usually 8 sessions over 2 to 3 months, and says it may be difficult for people with intense or highly distressing thoughts. [8] Do not stop antidepressants because of a course; NICE sends readers to its separate guidance on stopping them with clinician support. [8] See MBCT for depression and MBSR, MBCT and structured programs.

Other physical conditions

Separate pages cover blood pressure and heart health, cancer care and IBS and digestive conditions. The category hub is Meditation & Mindfulness.

Frequently asked questions

Does meditation help chronic pain?

Reviews find a small benefit, but the evidence is low quality. [1] In one large back-pain trial, MBSR matched CBT and did better than usual care at 26 weeks. [2]

Does meditation improve focus?

Evidence for attention in general is low or insufficient. [4] In adults with ADHD, small studies show gains on rated symptoms. [5]

Does MBCT prevent depression coming back?

In people with recurrent depression in remission, relapse risk was lower with MBCT than with usual care within 60 weeks. [6]

Can I use mindfulness instead of antidepressants?

Talk with your clinician before changing any medicine. NICE lists MBCT as an option for people who do not wish to continue medicine, with its own stopping guidance. [8]

Is mindfulness safe for everyone?

It is usually low-risk, but about 8 percent of participants in one review reported a negative effect, most often anxiety or depression. [7]

More details: evidence, limits and cautions

The details behind this page: cautions, limits of the evidence and where sources disagree. Open any note to read it.

Safety and when to seek care
NCCIH calls meditation and mindfulness generally low-risk but says too few studies have looked at harms to be definite. A 2020 review it cites found about 8 percent of participants had a negative effect, most often anxiety and depression. [7] See difficulties and distressing experiences. If you are in crisis in the US, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is free and available 24/7 by call, text or chat. [9]
References
  1. Hilton L, et al. Mindfulness Meditation for Chronic Pain: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Ann Behav Med. 2017. Read 2026-10-22.
  2. Cherkin DC, et al. Effect of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction vs Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or Usual Care on Back Pain and Functional Limitations in Adults With Chronic Low Back Pain: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA. 2016. Read 2026-10-22.
  3. Mindfulness Meditation for Fibromyalgia Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Pain Physician. 2024. Read 2026-10-22.
  4. Goyal M, et al. Meditation programs for psychological stress and well-being: a systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA Intern Med. 2014. Read 2026-10-22.
  5. Mindfulness-based interventions for adults with ADHD: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Medicine (Baltimore). 2025. Read 2026-10-22.
  6. Kuyken W, et al. Efficacy of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy in Prevention of Depressive Relapse: An Individual Patient Data Meta-analysis From Randomized Trials. JAMA Psychiatry. 2016. Read 2026-10-22.
  7. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Meditation and Mindfulness: Effectiveness and Safety. Read 2026-10-22.
  8. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Depression in adults: treatment and management (NG222), Recommendations. Published 29 June 2022. Read 2026-10-22. Read 2026-10-22.
  9. 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. 988lifeline.org. Read 2026-10-22. Read 2026-10-22.
Education, not medical advice. This page is for general information. It does not diagnose or treat any condition and is not a substitute for care from a qualified health professional. Natural does not automatically mean safe. Ask a clinician or pharmacist before changing your care, especially if you take medication, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have a health condition.