Overview

The goal of this study is to determine if a mind-body intervention can help people suffering from chronic back pain. The study is a randomized, partially blinded trial examining the effectiveness of a mind body intervention in reducing disability from back pain and alleviating back pain in participants as compared to usual care and an active control (second mind body intervention). The investigators will secondarily investigate whether the intervention alleviates anxiety related to the pain and other quality of life parameters.

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adult patient 18 ≥ years old
• Chronic back pain
• Pain persistent for a minimum of 3 days a week for the past three months prior to enrollment
• Willingness to consider mind-body intervention
• At least score of 2 or more on Roland Disability Questionnaire
• At least score of 3 or more back pain bothersomeness

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients < 18 years of age
• Patients > 67 years of age
• Diagnosed organic disease as cause of pain, such as (but not limited) to malignancy, neurologic disorder (i.e., amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), cauda equina syndrome (note that pain related to disc disease is not an exclusion unless there are neurological impairments)
• Patients with a diagnosis of significant psychiatric co-morbidities such as schizophrenia, dementia, and bipolar disorder