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

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.