A Multi-Site, Randomized, Parallel-Group, Controlled Trial of Virtually-Delivered Sahaj Samadhi Meditation for the Management of Moderate Depressive Symptoms in Chronic Pain

Authors

Darren K. Cheng, Robert Simpson, Rahim Moineddin, Joel Katz, Benoit H. Mulsant, Akshya Vasudev, Michelle Greiver, Fardous Hosseiny, Marco Inzitari, Ronnie I. Newman, Leon Rivlin, Kirk D. Foat, Andrea D. Furlan, John Francis Flannery, Deanna Telner, Rachael Bosma, Michelle Naimer, Chadwick Chung, Andrew D. Pinto, Michelle L.A. Nelson, Ross Upshur, Abhimanyu Sud

Citation

Cheng DK, Simpson R, Moineddin R, Katz J, Mulsant BH, Vasudev A, Greiver M, Hosseiny F, Inzitari M, Newman RI, Rivlin L, Foat KD, Furlan AD, Flannery JF, Telner D, Bosma R, Naimer M, Chung C, Pinto AD, Nelson MLA, Upshur R, Sud A. A Multi-Site, Randomized, Parallel-Group, Controlled Trial of Virtually-Delivered Sahaj Samadhi Meditation for the Management of Moderate Depressive Symptoms in Chronic Pain. J Pain Res. 2025;18:2925-2946. https://doi.org/10.2147/JPR.S515229

Abstract

Background: Chronic pain (CP) often co-occurs with depression, but promising scalable interventions have been under-investigated. We assessed the effectiveness of the virtually-delivered Sahaj Samadhi Meditation (SSM) program in reducing depressive symptoms in people with CP and moderate depressive symptoms.

Methods: We conducted a randomized controlled trial comparing SSM to the Health Enhancement Program (HEP), an active control. Participants were recruited from multiple sites in the Greater Toronto Area and virtually. Both 12-week programs were delivered virtually in groups by appropriately trained facilitators. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) at baseline, 12 weeks, and 24 weeks. ClinicalTrials.gov registration number: NCT04039568.

Results: Of 108 participants enrolled, 89 were randomized to SSM (n=43) or HEP (n=46). Between-group differences for the PHQ-9 were not significant. Within-group mean differences for SSM were significant and greater than the minimal clinically important difference at both 12 weeks and 24 weeks (− 3.97 (95% CI − 6.69 to − 1.24) and − 4.96 (− 8.36 to − 1.56), respectively), while within-group mean differences were not significant for HEP.

Conclusion: This study suggests potential benefits of SSM for individuals with comorbid CP and depression. Future trials should include larger sample sizes in non-pandemic conditions to better evaluate the effectiveness of SSM. Further research should also explore pragmatic trial designs and the integration of mind-body interventions in clinical settings.