Sérgio A Carvalho1,2, David Gillanders3, Teresa Forte4, Inês A Trindade1,5, José Pinto-Gouveia1, Teresa Lapa6,7, Ana Valentim6, Elsa Santos6, Juliana Paciência6, Raquel Guiomar1, Paula Castilho1. 1. Center for Research in Neuropsychology and Cognitive Behavioral Intervention (CINEICC), Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal. 2. HEI-Lab: Digital Human-Environment Interaction Lab, School of Psychology and Life Sciences, Lusófona University, Lisbon, Portugal. 3. School of Health in Social Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK. 4. Department of Social, Political and Territorial Sciences, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal. 5. Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden. 6. Anaesthesiology Service, Coimbra Hospital and University Centre, Coimbra, Portugal. 7. Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Evidence shows that Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is an empirically supported psychological approach for chronic pain (CP) management. Although self-compassion is not explicitly a target of ACT, it seems to be one mechanism of change in ACT for CP. However, research is lacking on the benefits of including explicit self-compassionate exercises in ACT for CP. The current study pilot tested a Compassionate ACT 8-session group program (COMP.ACT; n=9), as well as an ACT-only 8-session group program (ACT; n=7), in a sample of women with CP. METHODS: The current study follows a quasi-experimental design, and conducts Reliable and Significant Change analyses comparing pre- to post-intervention scores of self-report measures. RESULTS: No differences were found between conditions at baseline, nor between completers and drop-outs. Although preliminary, results showed COMP.ACT led to greater clinical improvements in depression and anxiety, while ACT led to greater improvements in stress and uncompassionate self-responding. Reliable and Significant Change analysis showed that some participants improved significantly (in psychopathological symptoms, valued living and uncompassionate self-responding) in both conditions, while the majority did not change significantly. CONCLUSIONS: More research is needed to conclude whether explicit self-compassion exercises are useful in ACT for CP. Limitations and implications are further discussed.
OBJECTIVES: Evidence shows that Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is an empirically supported psychological approach for chronic pain (CP) management. Although self-compassion is not explicitly a target of ACT, it seems to be one mechanism of change in ACT for CP. However, research is lacking on the benefits of including explicit self-compassionate exercises in ACT for CP. The current study pilot tested a Compassionate ACT 8-session group program (COMP.ACT; n=9), as well as an ACT-only 8-session group program (ACT; n=7), in a sample of women with CP. METHODS: The current study follows a quasi-experimental design, and conducts Reliable and Significant Change analyses comparing pre- to post-intervention scores of self-report measures. RESULTS: No differences were found between conditions at baseline, nor between completers and drop-outs. Although preliminary, results showed COMP.ACT led to greater clinical improvements in depression and anxiety, while ACT led to greater improvements in stress and uncompassionate self-responding. Reliable and Significant Change analysis showed that some participants improved significantly (in psychopathological symptoms, valued living and uncompassionate self-responding) in both conditions, while the majority did not change significantly. CONCLUSIONS: More research is needed to conclude whether explicit self-compassion exercises are useful in ACT for CP. Limitations and implications are further discussed.
Authors: Raquel Guiomar; Inês A Trindade; Sérgio A Carvalho; Paulo Menezes; Bruno Patrão; Maria Rita Nogueira; Teresa Lapa; Joana Duarte; José Pinto-Gouveia; Paula Castilho Journal: Front Psychol Date: 2022-07-22