Acceptance and Commitment Therapy With and Without Enhanced Mindfulness Training for Chronic Pain

Summary

As non-pharmacological alternatives, psychosocial treatments have been recommended for chronic pain management. One such treatment is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). ACT is a cognitive behavior therapy based on Relational Frame Theory, a comprehensive theory about language and cognition. This treatment intends to help patients identify values ("what is truly meaningful to them") and to set goals and take action according to their values. ACT has research support in the treatment of several mental health problems. Moreover patients are taught mindfulness skills to increase acceptance of pain, thoughts and feelings so that these will have less impact on functioning and action. Among patients with chronic pain, several small clinical trials have shown that ACT is more effective than other treatments in terms of increasing function and improving mental health. ACT in combination with mindfulness training has not been tested so far. Further methodologically robust trials are required. This study will therefore examine whether ACT is more effective for chronic pain than an education program, and whether adding daily mindfulness training will improve the outcome, in a large sample of patients from four multidisciplinary pain centers.

Conditions

• Chronic Pain

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

ACT

Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) sessions, lead by 2 qualified therapists, using a manual based on Steven Hayes et al 1999 that was adapted to group therapy and includes all the dynamic processes of ACT.

BEHAVIORAL

mindfulness exercises and audio recordings

mindfulness exercises introduced in the ACT sessions. In addition daily home meditation exercises based on the program developed by Kabat-Zinn 2005 and with help of audio recordings.

BEHAVIORAL

Education program

Self-management education program. Information given by a qualified health professional on pain and symptom management, stress, sleep, eating habits, mental health problems. Group discussions about thoughts and experiences. communication skills and physical activity

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Norwegian University of Science and Technology

  collaborator OTHER

• Oslo University Hospital

  collaborator OTHER

• University Hospital of North Norway

  collaborator OTHER

• Haukeland University Hospital

  collaborator OTHER

• St. Olavs Hospital

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Tormod Landmark, phd · St. Olavs Hospital

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2020-08-20

Primary Completion

2024-08-30

Completion

2024-08-30

Countries

• Norway

Study Locations