Mind Body Interventions for the Student Population
Condition: Chronic Pain; Anxiety; Stress
MeSH terms: Chronic Pain
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      This crossover randomized design study's objective is to see if mind body interventions can
      help students on a college campus manage their chronic pain and/or PTSD. Participants will
      attend 10 mind body skills group sessions that are 2 hours each. These group sessions teach a
      variety of ways (skills) for people to express their feelings. A licensed doctor, who is
      certified to teach mind-body skills group classes, will lead the skills group. Participants
      will be assessed with an anxiety questionnaire, a chronic pain measure and a measure of heart
      rate variability.

      There will be two groups. Group 1 will begin intervention after baseline testing and will
      receive follow-up skill sessions once every month for 6 months. The first group will also
      attend bonus classes during the next 6 months. The second group will do baseline testing and
      no intervention for the first 10 weeks. They will then participate in the skills groups the
      second 10 weeks. There will be 3,6 and 12 month follow up data also taken.
    

Detailed description: 
      Students on campus will be made aware of the study through fliers posted on campus. If they
      contact the study representatives to participate, they will fill out a screening
      questionnaire that will determine their symptoms and care they are currently receiving. Those
      that meet the inclusion criteria will be assigned to Group 1 or 2 randomly. The mind body
      skills groups will be 10 weeks long. Group 1 will participate in mind body interventions
      immediately, and Group 2 will continue with their usual care for the 10 weeks. After the
      first session, Group 2 will complete the mind body intervention sessions. The research will
      therefore be a crossover randomized design where each group will serve as its own control,
      and also may be compared to the other group. Participants in either group will still be
      allowed to participate in any care they are currently receiving outside of the mind body
      intervention, including but not limited to counseling or a support group or therapy. Also,
      after these groups are over, the first group will continue to have "reunion groups" once per
      month for 6 months and the second group will not. Reunion groups will consist of
      supplementary mind body skills group sessions that reinforce skills learned in the original
      mind body skills groups and also work on retention of knowledge beyond the program. Outcome
      measures will be taken pre and post mind body skills group, and then at 3, 6, and 12 months
      after the 10 week mind body skills group ends.

      The topics for each session is based upon the Centers for Mind Body Medicine model. Both
      groups will follow this same weekly topic schedule.

        1. Introduction and Drawings

        2. Autogenic Training and Biofeedback

        3. Guided Imagery

        4. Meditation

        5. Mobilizing, Transforming, and Celebrating Emotion

        6. Genograms part 1

        7. Genograms part 2

        8. Mindful Eating and Healthy Nutrition

        9. Spirituality

       10. Closing Drawings and Ritual
    

Intervention name(s): Mind body skills
Intervention type(s): Behavioral
Intervention description(s): 2 hour skill sessions that focus on mindfulness: The topics for each session is based upon the Centers for Mind Body Medicine model. Both groups will follow this same weekly topic schedule.
Introduction and Drawings
Autogenic Training and Biofeedback
Guided Imagery
Meditation
Mobilizing, Transforming, and Celebrating Emotion
Genograms part 1
Genograms part 2
Mindful Eating and Healthy Nutrition
Spirituality
Closing Drawings and Ritual
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Crossover Assignment
Intervention model description: There will be 2 groups of participants. Group 1 will begin the intervention immediately. Group 2 will maintain their usual lifestyle for the first 10 weeks, and begin group sessions when group 1 has completed. There will be "refresher sessions" for group 1 once per month, and 3, 6 12 month follow up testing after the group sessions.
Masking: None (Open Label)
Primary purpose: Treatment