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Spinal Cord InjuriesNCT05556057

Feasibility of Mindfulness Meditation Training and Home Practice in Persons With Spinal Cord Injury

A study testing mindfulness meditation(MM) in people with Spinal Cord Injuries, run by The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston at 2 sites in United States.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of a 6-week app-guided Mindfulness meditation training (MM) intervention and health education (active control) condition in people with spinal cord injury (SCI) who have chronic pain and to examine the feasibility of data collection procedures Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and older
Conditions the study is for
Spinal Cord Injuries
What is being tested?
mindfulness meditation(MM)
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
65 participants
Where
2 sitesUnited States
Study dates
6 Dec 2022to 16 Jul 2024
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 years and older
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Traumatic SCI of at least 6 months duration
  • Chronic pain [defined as pain lasting at least 3 months with a pain intensity rating of 4 or higher on a 10-point visual analog scale]
  • Understand spoken and written English sufficiently to provide informed consent
  • participate in the intervention and complete study surveys

Who cannot join

  • Lack of daily access to the internet using a smart phone or smart tablet
  • Cognitive impairment (determined by their inability to demonstrate comprehension of informed consent by correctly answering 4 out of 5 questions pertaining to the study)
  • Significant visual/hearing impairment that does not allow use of the MM app's audiovisual presentations or health education presentations on Ted-talk
  • Use of any kind of meditation more than once a week in the last 3 months
  • Inability to provide or obtain an email address for communication with study staff
  • Inability to operate the app download or study related survey using a smartphone.

Trial locations and contacts

2 sites in 1 country.

United States2 sites
  • The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

    Houston, Texas, 77030

  • TIRR Memorial Hermann

    Houston, Texas, 77030

Other trials in United States

About this study

Official title: Feasibility of Mindfulness Meditation Training and Home Practice in Persons With Spinal Cord Injury: A Pilot Study

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of a 6-week app-guided Mindfulness meditation training (MM) intervention and health education (active control) condition in people with spinal cord injury (SCI) who have chronic pain and to examine the feasibility of data collection procedures

Read the detailed description

Our multidisciplinary, interinstitutional team of investigators proposes to randomize 60 SCI patients experiencing chronic pain to practice audio-guided MM for ≥ 10 minutes daily for 6 weeks using the free app "Mindfulness Coach" developed by the Department of Veteran Affairs, or to listen or view health education presentations (active control) ≥ 10 minutes daily for 6 weeks on the free TED app (active control). Primary outcomes are the feasibility and acceptability of proposed interventions in people with SCI and chronic pain. Secondary outcomes include the feasibility of collecting patient-reported outcomes of pain, anxiety, depression, mindfulness, quality of life, stress, fatigue and sleep disturbance.

Being tested
mindfulness meditation(MM), Health Education (active control)
Medical subject headings
Spinal Cord Injuries

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • mindfulness meditation(MM)Other

    Participants will be provided with a unique invitation code that will allow them to download and use the free research version of the Mindfulness Coach app that is designed to deliver mindfulness training developed by the Veteran Affairs' National Center for PTSD.The app is tailored to users who may be skeptical about meditation practices by providing simple instructions and brief meditation exercises. The app offers written information about mindfulness as well as 12 audio-guided meditations each lasting 8-13 minutes, with an average length of 10 minutes

  • Health Education (active control)Other

    Participants will be asked to download and use the free TED Talk app.Each participant's account will include a list of over 80 TED Talks related to the six broad categories of sleep, nutrition, mood, relationships, chronic pain, and health behaviors. These talks range from 4 to 18 minutes and were reviewed/selected by the investigator team. The research coordinator(RC) will instruct them to watch or listen to these videos for ≥ 10 minutes daily for 6 days per week. The RC will ask participants to complete weekly logs of their TED Talk app use

Study groups in NCT05556057
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
mindfulness meditation(MM)ExperimentalNot described
Receives: Other: mindfulness meditation(MM)
Health EducationActive comparatorNot described
Receives: Other: Health Education (active control)

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Feasibility as Assessed by the Proportion of Eligible People Who Provide Consent

    Measured: end of study at 3 years

  2. Feasibility as Assessed by the Number of Participants Who Complete the Minimum Recommended Minutes (i.e., 60 Minutes/Per Week) of Using the MM or HE App During the 6 Weeks Intervention

    Measured: post-intervention (6 weeks post-enrollment)

  3. Feasibility as Assessed by the Number of Participants That Complete All Visits

    Number of participants that complete all visits defined as participants who completed all study assessments, including baseline visits, immediate post-intervention assessments, and 12-week follow-up assessments.

    Measured: end of study (12 weeks post enrollment)

  4. Acceptability Rate as Assessed by the Number of Participants Who Scored 20 or Greater on the Modified Client Satisfaction Questionnaire-8

    The Client Satisfaction Questionnaire-8 measures satisfaction and the total score ranges from 8 to 32. The greater the score the higher satisfaction.

    Measured: post-intervention (6 weeks post-enrollment)

  5. Feasibility as Assessed by the Number of Participants That Complete All Visits

    Number of participants that complete all visits defined as participants who completed all study assessments, including baseline visits and immediate post-intervention assessments.

    Measured: post-intervention (6 weeks post-enrollment)

Secondary outcomes (24)
  1. Feasibility of Collecting Patient Reported Outcomes of Pain as Assessed by the Number of Participants Who Completed the International SCI Pain Basic Data Subset (Version 2)

    This survey contains 11 questions and each one is measured from 0(no pain) to 10(chronic pain),with a maximum score of 110, a higher number indicating more pain

    Measured: Baseline

  2. Feasibility of Collecting Patient Reported Outcomes of Pain as Assessed by the Number of Participants Who Completed the International SCI Pain Basic Data Subset (Version 2)

    This survey contains 11 questions and each one is measured from 0(no pain) to 10(chronic pain),with a maximum score of 110, a higher number indicating more pain

    Measured: post-intervention (6 weeks post-enrollment), end of study (12 weeks post enrollment)

  3. Feasibility of Collecting Patient Reported Outcomes of Pain-related Distress as Assessed by the Number of Participants Who Completed the Chronic Pain Acceptance Questionnaire (CPAQ-R8)

    This is a 20 item questionnaire, each is scored from 0(never true) to 6(always true), a higher number indicating higher acceptance

    Measured: baseline

  4. Feasibility of Collecting Patient Reported Outcomes of Pain-related Distress as Assessed by the Number of Participants Who Completed the Chronic Pain Acceptance Questionnaire (CPAQ-R8)

    This is a 20 item questionnaire, each is scored from 0(never true) to 6(always true), a higher number indicating higher acceptance

    Measured: post-intervention (6 weeks post-enrollment), end of study (12 weeks post enrollment)

  5. Feasibility of Collecting Patient Reported Outcomes of Brief Pain as Assessed by the Number of Participants Who Completed the Brief Pain Catastrophizing Scale (Brief PCS)

    This measures three aspects of catastrophic cognitions about pain-rumination, magnification, and helplessness. This is a 13 item questionnaire. Each question has five response options ranging from 0 (not at all) to 4 (all the time) scale, with a maximum score of 52

    Measured: Baseline

  6. Feasibility of Collecting Patient Reported Outcomes of Brief Pain as Assessed by the Number of Participants Who Completed the Brief Pain Catastrophizing Scale (Brief PCS)

    This measures three aspects of catastrophic cognitions about pain-rumination, magnification, and helplessness. This is a 13 item questionnaire. Each question has five response options ranging from 0 (not at all) to 4 (all the time) scale, with a maximum score of 52

    Measured: post-intervention (6 weeks post-enrollment), end of study (12 weeks post enrollment)

  7. Feasibility of Collecting Patient Reported Outcomes of Anxiety as Assessed by the Number of Participants Who Completed the General Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) Questionnaire

    This is an 7 item questionnaire, each is scored from 0(not at all) to 3(nearly every day), a higher score indicating more anxiety

    Measured: Baseline

  8. Feasibility of Collecting Patient Reported Outcomes of Anxiety as Assessed by the Number of Participants Who Completed the General Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) Questionnaire

    This is an 7 item questionnaire, each is scored from 0(not at all) to 3(nearly every day), a higher score indicating more anxiety

    Measured: post-intervention (6 weeks post-enrollment), end of study (12 weeks post enrollment)

  9. Feasibility of Collecting Patient Reported Outcomes of Depression as Assessed by the Number of Participants Who Completed the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-8)

    This is an 8 item questionnaire.Each question is scored from 0 to 1 day = "not at all," 2 to 6 days = "several days," 7 to 11 days = "more than half the days," and 12 to 14 days = "nearly every day". Total score is determined by adding together the scores of each of the four items. Scores are rated as normal (0-2), mild (3-5), moderate (6-8), and severe (9-12).

    Measured: Baseline

  10. Feasibility of Collecting Patient Reported Outcomes of Depression as Assessed by the Number of Participants Who Completed the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-8)

    This is an 8 item questionnaire.Each question is scored from 0 to 1 day = "not at all," 2 to 6 days = "several days," 7 to 11 days = "more than half the days," and 12 to 14 days = "nearly every day". Total score is determined by adding together the scores of each of the four items. Scores are rated as normal (0-2), mild (3-5), moderate (6-8), and severe (9-12).

    Measured: post-intervention (6 weeks post-enrollment), end of study (12 weeks post enrollment)

  11. Feasibility of Collecting Patient Reported Outcomes of Mindfulness as Assessed by the Number of Participants Who Completed the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire-15 (FFMQ-15)

    This is a 15 item questionnaire, each is scored from 1(never or very rarely true) to 5(very often or always true) for a maximum score of 120, higher score indicating more mindfulness

    Measured: Baseline

  12. Feasibility of Collecting Patient Reported Outcomes of Mindfulness as Assessed by the Number of Participants Who Completed the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire-15 (FFMQ-15)

    This is a 15 item questionnaire, each is scored from 1(never or very rarely true) to 5(very often or always true) for a maximum score of 120, higher score indicating more mindfulness

    Measured: post-intervention (6 weeks post-enrollment), end of study (12 weeks post enrollment)

  13. Feasibility of Collecting Patient Reported Outcomes of Quality of Life as Assessed by the Number of Participants Who Completed the SCI-quality of Life (QOL): Positive Affect and Well Being-Short Form (PAWB-SF)

    This is a 10 item scale each scored from (1)never to (5)always, with a maximum score of 50 a higher number indicating a better outcome

    Measured: Baseline

  14. Feasibility of Collecting Patient Reported Outcomes of Quality of Life as Assessed by the Number of Participants Who Completed the SCI-quality of Life (QOL): Positive Affect and Well Being-Short Form (PAWB-SF)

    This is a 10 item scale each scored from (1)never to (5)always, with a maximum score of 50 a higher number indicating a better outcome

    Measured: post-intervention (6 weeks post-enrollment), end of study (12 weeks post enrollment)

  15. Feasibility of Collecting Perceived Stress as Assessed by the Number of Participants Who Completed the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-4)

    The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-4) is a four-item scale, each item is scored from 0(never) to 4(very often). The total score ranges from 0 to 16, a higher score indicating more stress

    Measured: Baseline

  16. Feasibility of Collecting Perceived Stress as Assessed by the Number of Participants Who Completed the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-4)

    The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-4) is a four-item scale, each item is scored from 0(never) to 4(very often). The total score ranges from 0 to 16, a higher score indicating more stress

    Measured: post-intervention (6 weeks post-enrollment), end of study (12 weeks post enrollment)

  17. Feasibility of Collecting Fatigue as Assessed by the Number of Participants Who Completed the PROMIS Fatigue- Short Form 4a

    Each question has five response options ranging in value from five (very poor) to one (very good), a higher number indicating more fatigue.

    Measured: Baseline

  18. Feasibility of Collecting Fatigue as Assessed by the Number of Participants Who Completed the PROMIS Fatigue- Short Form 4a

    Each question has five response options ranging in value from five (very poor) to one (very good), a higher number indicating more fatigue.

    Measured: post-intervention (6 weeks post-enrollment), end of study (12 weeks post enrollment)

  19. Feasibility of Collecting Psychological Inflexibility/Experiential Avoidance as Assessed by the Number of Participants Who Completed the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire (AAQ-2)

    This contains 7 items and answers are given on a 7-point scale ranging from 1 (never true) to 7 (always true). High scores on the AAQ-2 are reflective of greater experiential avoidance and immobility, while low scores reflect greater acceptance and action.

    Measured: Baseline

  20. Feasibility of Collecting Psychological Inflexibility/Experiential Avoidance as Assessed by the Number of Participants Who Completed the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire (AAQ-2)

    This contains 7 items and answers are given on a 7-point scale ranging from 1 (never true) to 7 (always true). High scores on the AAQ-2 are reflective of greater experiential avoidance and immobility, while low scores reflect greater acceptance and action.

    Measured: post-intervention (6 weeks post-enrollment)

  21. Feasibility of Collecting Psychological Inflexibility/Experiential Avoidance as Assessed by the Number of Participants Who Completed the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire (AAQ-2)

    This contains 7 items and answers are given on a 7-point scale ranging from 1 (never true) to 7 (always true). High scores on the AAQ-2 are reflective of greater experiential avoidance and immobility, while low scores reflect greater acceptance and action.

    Measured: end of study (12 weeks post enrollment)

  22. Feasibility of Collecting Sleep Disturbance as Assessed by the Number of Participants Who Completed the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Sleep Disturbance- Short Form 4a

    This is a 4 item questionnaire and each question has five response options ranging in value from five (very poor) to one (very good) for a maximum score of 16, higher number indicating worse outcome.

    Measured: Baseline

  23. Feasibility of Collecting Sleep Disturbance as Assessed by the Number of Participants Who Completed the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Sleep Disturbance- Short Form 4a

    This is a 4 item questionnaire and each question has five response options ranging in value from five (very poor) to one (very good) for a maximum score of 16, higher number indicating worse outcome.

    Measured: post-intervention (6 weeks post-enrollment)

  24. Feasibility of Collecting Sleep Disturbance as Assessed by the Number of Participants Who Completed the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Sleep Disturbance- Short Form 4a

    This is a 4 item questionnaire and each question has five response options ranging in value from five (very poor) to one (very good) for a maximum score of 16, higher number indicating worse outcome.

    Measured: end of study (12 weeks post enrollment)

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted27 Sep 2022
  2. Study start6 Dec 2022
  3. Primary completion16 Jul 2024
  4. Study completion16 Jul 2024

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Other
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
Single blind
Who is masked
Investigator
Enrolment
65 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT05556057
Sponsor's protocol ID
HSC-MS-22-0035
Other IDs
1R34AT011530-01A1
Status last verified
Aug 2025
First submitted
22 Sep 2022
Last updated
14 Aug 2025
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No

Publications

  • Ratcliff CG, Lohiya S, Robinson-Whelen S, Taylor H, Ahn A, Korupolu R. Mindfulness buffers the association of pain with depression and anxiety among people with spinal cord injury: A cross-sectional study. Rehabil Psychol. 2026 Feb;71(1):62-71. doi: 10.1037/rep0000593. Epub 2024 Nov 11.

    PubMed 39531687

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing mindfulness meditation(MM) in people with Spinal Cord Injuries, run by The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston at 2 sites in United States.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 6 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 14 Aug 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 2 sites in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 14 Aug 2025). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Feasibility as Assessed by the Proportion of Eligible People Who Provide Consent (time frame: end of study at 3 years). The study lists 5 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT05556057, which also lists 1 linked publication.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 14 Aug 2025.

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