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Completed

NCT Number: NCT01603797

Guided Internet-delivered Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Chronic Pain Patients

The aim of this study was to investigate if guided internet-delivered acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)would help chronic pain patients.

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Key information

Conditions

Chronic Pain Neurologic Manifestations Pain Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Signs and Symptoms

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

About this study

The present study investigates internet-delivered ACT for persons with chronic pain. The use of internet as a delivery format for interventions could be a way of overcome many barriers (financial obstacles, reluctance to seek treatment and paucity of clinicians trained in ACT) that hinder persons with chronic pain to seek or receive adequate help. Persons were randomized to either treatment for 7 weeks or to a control group who were invited to participate in a moderated online discussion forum. Follow up data was collected six months after the treatment.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • that participants had undergone medical investigation (within one year)
  • had regular access to the internet
  • had functional impairment caused by chronic pain
  • had internet access

Exclusion criteria

  • ongoing medical investigations or treatment that could interfere with participation in the study, such as planned surgery and suffering from acute physical or psychological conditions
  • not fluent in the Swedish language

Treatment and study plan

Guided internet-delivered acceptance and commitment therapy

Behavioral

The treatment program consisted of seven sections and was based on ACT.The first part was about creative hopelessness and was followed in the next section by an introduction to willingness and to the process of acceptance of pain. Information and assignments about committed action and values were also part of the treatment program. Mindfulness exercises were a regular feature in the program. The last part was about how to maintain learned strategies but also an evaluation of the program.

Primary outcomes

  1. Chronic Pain Acceptance Questionnaire (CPAQ)

    Time frame: One week pre- and post-treatment

    CPAQ consists of 20 items divided into two subscales: activity engagement and pain willingness. Items are rated on a scale from 0 (never true) to 6 (always true). Higher scores denote greater activity engagement and pain willingness. Studies show acceptable reliability (α =.72-.92).

Secondary outcomes

  1. Hospital and Anxiety Depression Scale (HADS)

    Time frame: One week pre- and post- treatment

    HADS contains 14 items and evaluates severity of symptoms of depression and anxiety without contamination of scores of physical symptomatology.

  2. The Coping Strategies Questionnaire (CSQ)

    Time frame: One week pre- and post- treatment

    The CSQ contains 50 items divided into eight scales measuring different cognitive and behavioural coping strategies and has been widely used by chronic pain patients. The coping strategies scales are: diverting attention, re-interpreting pain sensations, coping self-statements, ignoring sensations, praying and hoping, catastrophizing and increased behavioral activities

  3. Multidimensional Pain Inventory (MPI-S)

    Time frame: One week pre- and post- treatment

    The Swedish version of MPI (MPI-S) consists of 34 items divided into 8 scales. The first section addresses: Pain Severity, Interference, Life Control, Affective Distress and Support. The second section addresses the patient's perception of how significant others respond to their displays of pain: Punishing Responses, Solicitous Responses and Distracting Responses.

  4. The Pain and Impairment Relationship Scale (PAIRS)

    Time frame: One week pre- and post- treatment

    PAIRS assess beliefs and attitudes associated with the experience of chronic pain and one's ability to function despite pain. It consists of 15 personal statements that reflect thoughts, attitudes and opinions about pain.

  5. Quality of Life Inventory (QOLI)

    Time frame: One week pre- and post- treatment

    QOLI consists of 32 items for assessing life satisfaction. The assessment yields an overall score and profile in 16 areas of life; health, self-esteem, goals and values, money, work, play, learning, creativity, helping, love, friends, children, relatives, home, neighborhood, and community.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Gerhard Andersson

Other Gov

Registry information

Official study title

Guided Internet-delivered Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Chronic Pain Patients: a Randomized Controlled Trial

Important dates

Study start
2010
Primary completion
2010
Study completion
2010
First posted
May 22, 2012
Registry last updated
Oct 3, 2012

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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