Positive Psychology Interventions in Individuals With Chronic Pain and Spinal Cord Injury

Summary

Background:

Chronic pain is one of the most burdensome potential consequences of a physical disability, such as spinal cord injury (SCI). Estimates of the incidence of chronic pain in SCI range between 65 - 80%. A recent pilot-study of a computer-based tailored positive psychology intervention showed a significant reduction in pain intensity, pain interference, pain catastrophizing and depression and an enhancement of subjective well-being and control over pain in persons with chronic pain secondary to a physical disability.

Study Objective:

Objective 1: To determine the efficacy of a tailored positive psychology intervention (T3P) in a community-based, single-blind, randomized, controlled, parallel group trial on subjective well-being and pain in individuals with chronic pain secondary to SCI.

Hypothesis 1: T3P will result in (1) greater immediate and long-lasting increase in subjective well-being, and perceived control over pain and (2) greater immediate and long-lasting decrease in depression, pain intensity, pain interference and catastrophizing, relative to an active control treatment.

Specific aim 1: To increase the understanding of the mechanisms underlying T3P by determining potential mediation effects.

Hypothesis 2: (1) Pain catastrophizing and pain control mediate the effect of T3P on pain intensity, and (2) positive and negative affect mediate the effect of T3P on life satisfaction and depression.

Objective 2: To identify for whom T3P is most effective by exploring potential moderator effects.

Study Design:

The proposed study is a single-blind, randomized, controlled trial with a parallel group design to determine the effects and mechanisms of T3P in a Swiss community sample of persons with chronic pain secondary to SCI.

Conditions

• Chronic Pain
• Spinal Cord Injury

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Positive Psychology intervention

Intervention group: Participants are instructed to practice 4 out of 10 differentPositive Psychology Exercises (Gratitude, Optimism, Act of Kindness, Social Relations, Forgiveness, Flow, Savoring, Goals, Spirituality, Taking Care of the Body) for at least 15 minutes, at least one day every week including on "bad" days (defined as days with higher than average levels of pain intensity or feeling "down in the dumps") for 8 weeks.

BEHAVIORAL

Positive Psychology intervention (Control exercise)

Control group: Control Exercise (Attention Training): Participants assigned to the control group are instructed to be more attentive to their surroundings and write about three specific events or activities from the past 7 days for at least 15 minutes once a week for 8 weeks. This condition is designed to control for the effects of time and participation in an intervention activity.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Swiss Paraplegic Research, Nottwil

  lead NETWORK

Principal Investigators

• Rachel Müller · Swiss Paraplegic Research, Nottwil

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

16 Years

Max Age

100 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2015-05-31

Primary Completion

2016-01-31

Completion

2016-03-31

Countries

• Switzerland

Study Locations