Psychological Treatment Targeting Acceptance and Compassion in Patients With Chronic Pain: A Randomized Controlled, Internet-delivered, Treatment TrialShow others and affiliations
2023 (English)In: The Clinical Journal of Pain, ISSN 0749-8047, E-ISSN 1536-5409, Vol. 39, no 12, p. 672-685Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]
OBJECTIVES: Chronic pain is often associated with lower function. Self-criticism is associated with depressive symptoms. The purpose of this study was to explore if fusing Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and compassion-focused therapy could improve psychological well-being and disability in individuals with chronic pain with high levels of self-criticism in comparison to a wait-list control group. METHODS: Individuals with chronic pain (n=71) were randomly assigned to an 8-week internet-based intervention focused on acceptance and compassion or a wait-list condition. Primary treatment outcomes were the Chronic Pain Acceptance Questionnaire, Self-Compassion Scale, and Pain Disability Index. Secondary outcomes were the Montgomery Åsberg Depression Rating Scale, Anxiety Sensitivity Index, Quality of Life Inventory, Multidimensional Pain Inventory, and Perseverative Thinking Questionnaire. RESULTS: Missing data at postintervention were 22.5%. Intention-to-treat analyses were conducted using linear mixed models. The results revealed greater levels of acceptance and self-compassion for the treatment group, which were primary outcomes, with effect sizes ranging from small to large, and these results were maintained at 6-month follow-up. The rates of clinically significant improvements were also greater for the treatment group in comparison to the wait-list control group on acceptance and compassion. The treatment group also improved in the third primary outcome, pain disability. Significant differences were found in several of the secondary outcomes, in favor of the treatment group. DISCUSSION: Internet-based Acceptance and Commitment Therapy with compassion-focused therapy components shows promise as a viable treatment option in the management of chronic pain.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. , 2023. Vol. 39, no 12, p. 672-685
Keywords [en]
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Chronic Pain, Empathy, Humans, Quality of Life, Treatment Outcome, acceptance and commitment therapy, chronic pain, controlled study, empathy, Internet, psychology, quality of life, randomized controlled trial, treatment outcome
National Category
Applied Psychology
Research subject
Psychology
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:kau:diva-97571DOI: 10.1097/AJP.0000000000001157ISI: 001101226100004PubMedID: 37712248Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-85176509025OAI: oai:DiVA.org:kau-97571DiVA, id: diva2:1815464
2023-11-292023-11-292025-10-16Bibliographically approved