Changes in Acceptance in a Low-Intensity, Group-Based Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) Chronic Pain...

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Behavioral Therapy

Background:

• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is effective for chronic pain rehabilitation.
• Acceptance is a key process of change in pain management.
• The impact of low-dose (<20 hours) ACT on acceptance in tertiary pain clinics requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a low-intensity, group-based ACT program for individuals with chronic pain.
• To compare changes in acceptance at group and individual levels with previous ACT studies.
• To assess the influence of a low-dose ACT intervention on pain catastrophizing, depression, anxiety, quality of life, and pain-related anxiety.

Main Methods:

• Seventy-one chronic pain patients participated in a 9-week outpatient ACT group program.
• Outcomes measured included acceptance, pain catastrophizing, depression, anxiety, quality of life, and pain-related anxiety.
• Effect sizes were calculated and compared to benchmarks from prior studies; reliable change indices (RCIs) assessed individual patient progress.

Main Results:

• The ACT intervention resulted in a statistically significant increase in acceptance at the group level (medium effect size: d=0.54).
• Changes in acceptance were comparable to previous low-intensity ACT interventions (<20 hours).
• Reliable improvement in acceptance was observed in 37.2% of patients, and 74.3% showed reliable change in at least one outcome measure.

Conclusions:

• A low-intensity, group-based ACT intervention is effective for chronic pain patients at a group level.
• The magnitude of change in acceptance aligns with previous low-intensity ACT studies.
• The majority of patients (74.3%) experienced reliable improvement in at least one measured outcome.