Cognitive behavior therapy significantly reduced depression and anxiety in chronic pain patients
This treatment also resulted in significant increases in self-efficacy, activity engagement and pain acceptance. To assess the potential benefits of an 8-week programme of group Acceptance and Commitment Therapy ( ACT ) in people with persistent pain, measures of pain acceptance and activity engagement were taken using the Chronic Pain Acceptance Questionnaire. Measures of psychological distress using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and self-efficacy were also taken at assessment, on the final day of the programme, and at the follow up six-month review. For those chronic pain patients with scores at all three time points, there were statistically significant improvements in all parameters between baseline and at six-months follow-up, including the change in mean score of depression, anxiety, self-efficacy, activity engagement and pain willingness (p<0.001). "To further validate the role of ACT in the treatment of chronic pain, specifically in a rheumatology co...