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"Living with pain" : the effectiveness of a web-based intervention for people with chronic pain

Schulz, Carina (2015) "Living with pain" : the effectiveness of a web-based intervention for people with chronic pain.

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Abstract:Acceptance and Commitment-Therapy (ACT) has shown positive effects for chronic pain patients on several domains including depression and anxiety. In modern times of e-health, web-based interventions are more and more required. Furthermore, controlled studies about processes that mediate its effects are still scarce. In this RCT the effects of a web-based self-guided intervention on depression and anxiety in chronic pain patients are evaluated. Furthermore, underlying processes of change are examined. Therefore, 238 chronic pain patients were randomly assigned amongst a web-based ACT (ACT, N=82) or Expressive Writing intervention (EW, N=79) or Waiting List condition (WL, N=77). Measures, such as the HADS were taken at baseline, post-treatment and three-month follow-up. Results show decreased depression and anxiety levels at post-treatment in all three groups. At follow-up ACT-participants had improved significantly compared to EW-participants concerning depression. Regarding processes of change, pain catastrophizing and psychological flexibility were found to mediate effects. Furthermore, changes in depression were also mediated by mindfulness when ACT was compared to the Waiting List. These findings mainly stress the relevance of psychological flexibility as a key process of ACT, insinuate its relation to catastrophizing and indicate that the internet may function as a suitable medium for ACT interventions.
Item Type:Essay (Master)
Faculty:BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences
Subject:77 psychology
Programme:Psychology MSc (66604)
Link to this item:https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/68277
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