Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 13, 2026
Author Spotlight: Methodologies and Advancements of Chronic Pain Management Research
Published on: January 5, 2024
Acceptance and commitment therapy in rehabilitation for chronic pain and fatigue: a qualitative interview study with
May-Lill Johansen1, Thor Eirik Eriksen2, Ida Therese Solhaug3
1Research Unit for General Practice, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway.
Purpose:
To shed a nuanced light on the experiences of taking part in a rehabilitation programme using acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) for people living with persistent pain and fatigue.
Materials And Methods:
The ACT intervention, designed by the Pain Clinic of a University Hospital, consisted of six four-hour sessions, each for four groups of 6-8 participants, given over the course of four months. An interdisciplinary research team thematically analysed 13 post-programme individual interviews with people aged 21 to 54 with different symptoms and diagnoses using systematic text condensation.
Results:
Participants reported that while illness had led to feelings of loneliness, loss and failure, participating in a safe and supportive group setting led to a nurturing sense of shared community, understanding and learning. Increased self-awareness, self-acceptance and self-compassion were valued outcomes of the programme. Most felt that they had acquired new tools, such as exercises, practices and altered ways of thinking. A few participants were uncomfortable with the sharing practices and felt that the programme brought few benefits for them.
Conclusions:
The study indicates the value of a sense of community and experiencing illness as a shared human condition. Learning to see oneself as worthy of self-compassion, suggested in the literature as key to pain rehabilitation, was connected to group validation and ACT-specific sessions. Information, exercises and sharing practices could have been even better targeted and tailored to individual participants.
