Self-compassion in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for chronic pain: a pilot study

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.

Angaben zum Objekt

• Standort: Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Frankfurt am Main
• Umfang: Online-Ressource
• Sprache: Englisch

Verweise und Beziehungen

• Erschienen in: Self-compassion in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for chronic pain: a pilot study ; volume:22 ; number:3 ; year:2022 ; pages:631-638 ; extent:08 ; Scandinavian journal of pain ; 22, Heft 3 (2022), 631-638 (gesamt 08)

Beteiligte, Orts- und Zeitangaben

• Urheber: Carvalho, Sérgio A. ; Gillanders, David ; Forte, Teresa ; Trindade, Inês A. ; Pinto-Gouveia, José ; Lapa, Teresa ; Valentim, Ana ; Santos, Elsa ; Paciência, Juliana ; Guiomar, Raquel ; Castilho, Paula

Weitere Informationen

• DOI: 10.1515/sjpain-2021-0214
• URN: urn:nbn:de:101:1-2024022813112477041809
• Rechteinformation: Open Access; Der Zugriff auf das Objekt ist unbeschränkt möglich.
• Letzte Aktualisierung: 14.08.2025, 10:45 MESZ