Mindfulness interventions and pain management in a patient with encephalomyelitis

Chronic pain is considered a common disabling disease, frequently related to a high comorbidity with anxiety and depression. Several psychological techniques have demonstrated to be effective in the treatment of chronic pain, in particular, mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) seem to reduce pain acting on self-regulatory individual's ability. In addition, this approach could develop cognitive strategies to decrease impulsivity. We selected a case of a patient with encephalomyelitis and spastic tetraparesis to assess the application and effectiveness of MBIs to reduce pain perception, improve anxiety and depressive symptoms. Our treatment showed a reduction in pain perception, and an improvement in anxious and depressive symptoms. In conclusion, MBIs could be useful to relieve disorders related to pain in neurological patients. •The study shows the application of mindfulness-based interventions in a patient with encephalomyelitis.•Mindfulness-based interventions have demonstrated to be effective in the treatment of chronic pain and emotional symptoms.•The intervention has favored an increase in the ability to regulate attention and emotional reactions.