An investigation of the associations between stigma, self-compassion, and pain outcomes during treatment based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for chronic pain

Introduction: Stigma adversely affects people with chronic pain. The qualities within self-compassion may be particularly useful for buffering the impact of stigma on people with pain. In the context of an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy-based (ACT) treatment for chronic pain, this study investigated the association between changes in stigma and self-compassion and pain outcomes, and the potential moderating role of self-compassion on the association between stigma and pain outcomes. Materials and methods: Five-hundred and nineteen patients completed standardized self-report questionnaires of stigma, self-compassion, psychological flexibility, pain intensity and interference, work and social adjustment, and depression symptoms at the start of an interdisciplinary ACT-based treatment for chronic pain. The same measures were completed at post-treatment (n = 431). Results: The results indicated that key pain outcomes and self-compassion significantly improved during treatment, but stigma did not. Changes in stigma and self-compassion were significantly negatively correlated and changes in these variables were associated with improvements in treatment outcomes. There were significant main effects of stigma and self-compassion for many of the pre- and post-treatment regression models when psychological flexibility was not controlled for, but self-compassion did not moderate the association between stigma and pain outcomes. Stigma remained significant when psychological flexibility variables were controlled for, while self-compassion did not. Discussion: The findings add to our conceptual understanding of the inter-relationships between stigma, self-compassion, and psychological flexibility and can contribute to treatment advancements to optimally target these variables

Model and processes of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for chronic pain including a closer look at the self

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), is one of the so called “third-wave” Cognitive Behavioral Therapies. It has been increasingly applied to chronic pain, and there is accumulating evidence to support its effectiveness. ACT is based on a model of general human functioning called the Psychological Flexibility (PF) model. Most facets of the PF model have been examined in chronic pain. However, a potential key facet related to “self” appears underappreciated. Indeed a positive or healthy sense of self seems essential to our wellbeing, and there have been numerous studies of the self in chronic pain. At the same time these studies are not currently well organized or easy to summarize. This lack of clarity and integration creates barriers to progress in this area of research. PF, with its explicit inclusion of self-related therapeutic processes within a broad, integrative, theoretical model may help. The current review summarizes the PF model in the context of chronic pain with a specific emphasis on the parts of the model that address self-related processes

Predictors of outcomes following interdisciplinary acceptance and commitment therapy for chronic pain: profiling psychological flexibility

Background Growing evidence demonstrates the benefit of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) for people with chronic pain. However, there remain people with chronic pain who do not benefit from ACT, and predicting treatment response is difficult. Aims This aim of this study was to investigate if baseline psychological flexibility (PF) profiles predict responses to an ACT-based pain management programme. Methods Data from 415 participants attending an interdisciplinary pain management programme were included. Participants completed measures of PF processes and outcomes pre- and post-treatment. Latent profile analysis was used to identify subgroups of participants based on their baseline PF scores. ANOVAs were conducted to compare subgroups of participants on outcome variables at baseline, and changes from pre- to post-treatment. Results Three subgroups of participants were identified: (a) low PF, (b) low openness and (c) high awareness and action. The three subgroups significantly differed on all outcome measures at pre-treatment, supporting the clinical relevance of these PF profiles. However, participants with different baseline PF profiles did not appear to differ in terms of changes in outcome variables. Conclusions People with chronic pain demonstrate different PF profiles, but appear to respond to ACT similarly regardless of these profiles. Future studies with a more individualized focus are needed to further understand which components of ACT work for whom on which outcome and how. Significance There remain people with chronic pain who do not benefit from acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and predicting treatment response is difficult. This is the first study to identify psychological flexibility (PF) profiles along multiple PF processes using latent class analysis, and the first longitudinal study to investigate PF profiles in relation to outcomes in ACT for chronic pain. The findings contribute to the understanding of theoretically consistent predictors of outcomes in ACT, which in turn can inform treatment development

The Contribution of the Psychologist in the Assessment and Treatment of Fibromyalgia

Altres ajuts: acords transformatius de la UABPurpose of review This review focuses on the role of psychologists in the assessment and treatment of fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS), a highly prevalent condition characterized by chronic widespread pain, fatigue, cognitive problems, distress, and disability. Recent findings A large body of work supports the effectiveness and cost-utility of psychological therapies for the improvement of a wide range of symptoms associated with FMS. However, patients with FMS are best assessed and treated by a multidisciplinary team, in which psychologists have an important role. Multidisciplinary treatment, in which each healthcare professional offers his or her own expertise to the patient, has been shown to produce more ubiquitous treatment effects for this complex syndrome than single discipline treatments. Considering the empirical evidence and documented experience of patients, people with FMS can benefit from integrated care, combining education, exercise, and psychotherapeutic approaches, including cognitive-behavioral therapy. Summary There has been a call for more health economics research to demonstrate the cost-effectiveness of psychological therapies. In this paper, we highlight the added value of psychologists as members of multidisciplinary treatment teams, who can assess and treat the maladaptive cognitive, emotional, and behavioral symptoms that are commonly seen in individuals with FMS

Measuring ‘self’: preliminary validation of a short form of the self experiences questionnaire in people with chronic pain

Background: People with chronic pain often struggle with their sense of self and this can adversely impact their functioning and wellbeing. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy particularly includes a process related to this struggle with self. A measure for this process, the Self Experiences Questionnaire, was previously developed in people with chronic pain. Purpose: The aim of the current study was to validate a shorter version of the Self Experiences Questionnaire in people with chronic pain to reduce respondent burden and facilitate further research. Methods: Data from 477 participants attending an interdisciplinary pain management programme were included. Participants completed measures of treatment processes (self-as-context, pain acceptance, cognitive fusion, and committed action) and outcomes (pain, pain interference, work and social adjustment, and depression) at baseline and post-treatment. Confirmatory factor analysis was used for item reduction. Correlations between scores from the shorter Self Experiences Questionnaire and other process and outcome variables were calculated to examine validity. Change scores of the shorter Self Experiences Questionnaire and their correlations with changes in outcome variables were examined for responsiveness. Results: An eight-item SEQ (SEQ-8) scale including two factors, namely Self-as-Distinction and Self-as-Observer, emerged, demonstrating good reliability (Cronbach’s α=.87-.90) and validity (|r|=.14-.52). Scores from SEQ-8 significantly improved after the treatment (d=.15-21), and these improvements correlated with improvements in most outcomes. Conclusions: The SEQ-8 appears to be a reliable and valid measure of self. This shorter format may facilitate intensive longitudinal investigation into sense of self and functioning and wellbeing