A Novel Treatment Delivery of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Chronic Pain in an Integrated Primary Care Setting
A Novel Treatment Delivery of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Chronic Pain in an Integrated Primary Care Setting
This mixed-methods pilot randomized controlled trial sought to: 1) evaluate implementation of a brief Acceptance and Commitment Therapy treatment for chronic pain delivered by an integrated behavioral health consultant in primary care; and to 2) explore treatment outcomes and their associated mechanisms of change.
Background: Most patients with chronic pain obtain their treatment in primary care settings, where evidence-based behavioral interventions are not typically provided, despite robust evidence for treatments like Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.
Objective: This mixed-methods pilot randomized controlled trial sought to: 1) evaluate implementation of a brief Acceptance and Commitment Therapy treatment for chronic pain delivered by an integrated behavioral health consultant in primary care; and to 2) explore treatment outcomes and their associated mechanisms of change.
Design: Mixed-methods pilot randomized controlled trial. Active participants completed one 30-minute individual Focused Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (FACT) visit followed by 3 weekly 60-minute group visits and a booster visit 2 months later. An enhanced treatment as usual (ETAU) control group received 4 handouts about pain management based on cognitive behavioral science. Follow-up research visits occurred during and after treatment, at 12 weeks (booster visit), and at 6 months. Semi-structured interviews were conducted after the last research visit.
Setting: A small integrated primary care clinic in southwestern U.S. affiliated with an academic medical center
Inclusion Criteria:
Exclusion Criteria: