Mindfulness, selfcompassion, and depressive symptoms in chronic pain: The role of pain acceptance

Abstract Objectives This study evaluated the feasibility, acceptability, and potential effectiveness of a hybrid skills-based group intervention, dialectical pain management (DPM), for adults with chronic pain who are receiving long-term opioid therapy. DPM adapts dialectical behavior therapy, a rigorous psychotherapeutic approach to emotion dysregulation, to treat disorders of physiological dysregulation. Methods Individuals with chronic pain (N = 17) participated in one of two 8-week DPM intervention cohorts. At pre-test and post-test, participants completed quantitative self-report assessments measuring pain intensity and interference, depressive symptoms, pain acceptance, beliefs about pain medications, and global rating of change. Within 2 weeks after the intervention, participants completed qualitative interviews to assess participant satisfaction and obtain feedback about specific intervention components. Results Of the 17 enrolled, 15 participants completed the group with 12 (70%) attending six or more sessions. Participants reported high satisfaction with the intervention. Preliminary findings suggested a significant increase in pain acceptance and a significant reduction in depressive symptoms. Participants also reported an improved relationship with their pain conditions and increased flexibility in responding to pain and applying coping skills. Several participants showed a reduction in opioid dosage over the course of the intervention. Discussion Findings support that DPM is a feasible and well-received intervention for individuals with chronic pain. Additional research with a control group is needed to further determine the intervention’s efficacy and impact.

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The Mediating Role of Pain Acceptance in the Relation Between Perceived Injustice and Chronic Pain Outcomes in a Community Sample

Clinical Journal of Pain ◽

10.1097/ajp.0000000000000427 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 33 (6) ◽

pp. 509-516 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Marie-Eve Martel ◽

Frédérick Dionne ◽

Whitney Scott

Keyword(s):

Chronic Pain ◽

Community Sample ◽

Perceived Injustice ◽

Pain Acceptance ◽

Mediating Role ◽

Pain Outcomes

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What Does the Psychological Flexibility Model Contribute to the Relationship Between Depression and Disability in Chronic Pain? The Role of Cognitive Fusion and Pain Acceptance

Clinical Nursing Research ◽

10.1177/10547738211034307 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 105477382110343

Author(s):

Carmen Ecija ◽

Patricia Catala ◽

Irene Lopez-Gomez ◽

Dolores Bedmar ◽

Cecilia Peñacoba

Keyword(s):

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Cognitive Fusion ◽

Pain Acceptance ◽

Mediation Analyses ◽

Activity Avoidance ◽

Mediator Role ◽

Low Levels ◽

Acceptance Levels ◽

The Relationship

This study examines the mediator role of cognitive fusion between depressive symptoms, activity avoidance and excessive persistence at different levels of pain acceptance (moderator) among fibromyalgia patients (FM). Using a sample of 231 women, multiple and moderate mediation analyses were conducted with PROCESS. Results showed that depression was positively associated with activity avoidance and excessive persistence. Furthermore, cognitive fusion and pain acceptance were found to mediate the effect of depression in both patterns. Additionally, pain acceptance was found to play a contextual role in cognitive fusion, as a moderator, between depressive symptoms and maladaptive patterns. Specifically, FM patients with high acceptance levels and low levels of depression presented the strongest associations between depression and cognitive fusion. Techniques aimed at reducing cognitive fusion, could be especially beneficial to FM women with high pain acceptance.

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