EFFECTS OF COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY (CBT) AND MEDITATION IN CHRONIC LOW BACK PAIN

Abstract –   Context: Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is a highly prevalent and often disabling condition among adults. Meditation is a practice which uses a technique like mindfulness, or focusing their mind on a particular thought, activity - to train awareness, achieve a mentally clear and emotionally calm state. Cognitive – behavioral therapy (CBT) is a form of psychotherapy that has been documented to be effective in treating depression, chronic pain and other mental disorders. Aim:  To compare the effects of both, CBT and Meditation on pain management in CLBP. Method: 27 patients with CLBP between the age group of 36-50 yrs were selected. They were divided into 3 groups. A 4 week intervention of conventional physiotherapeutic exercises, Meditation and CBT was given. Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Questionnaire and Numerical Pain Rating Scale were used as outcome measures. Results: Our study shows significant results pre and post all interventions, but no significant difference can be seen when the three interventions are compared to each other (with p<0.05) Conclusion: On the basis of the result obtained, we can say that all three interventions have a positive effect in pain reduction in CLBP.Statistically, no intervention has a better effect over others. But clinically meditation group performed better