Examining predictors of treatment effect in digital acceptance and commitment therapy for chronic pain
Open accessAbstract
Digitally delivered behavioral interventions for chronic pain have been encouraging with effects similar to face-to-face treatment. Although many chronic pain patients benefit from behavioral treatment, a substantial proportion do not improve. To contribute to more knowledge about factors that predict treatment effects in digitally delivered behavioral interventions for chronic pain, the present study analyzed pooled data (N = 130) from three different studies on digitally delivered Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for chronic pain. Longitudinal linear mixed-effects models for repeated measures were used to identify variables with significant influence on the rate of improvement in the main treatment outcome pain interference from pre- to post-treatment. The variables were sorted into six domains (demographics, pain variables, psychological flexibility, baseline severity, comorbid symptoms and early adherence) and analysed in a stepwise manner. The study found that shorter pain duration and higher degree of insomnia symptoms at baseline predicted larger treatment effects. The original trials from which data was pooled are registered at clinicaltrials.gov (registration number: NCT03105908 and NCT03344926).
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A shorter pain duration has been associated with greater improvements in pain interference after digital ACT in a population with chronic pain.
“Previously, a shorter pain duration has been associated with greater improvements in pain interference after digital ACT in a population with chronic pain. 48”
From Internet-based treatment for provoked vulvodynia: Factors associated with treatment outcomes (2025) · cites this paper as [48]
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- Authors
- Gentili, C., Zetterqvist, V., Rickardsson, J., Holmström, L., Ljótsson, B., & Wicksell, R.
- Affiliations
- Karolinska University Hospital (SE)
- Uppsala University (SE)
- Karolinska Institutet (SE)
- Corresponding author
- Gentili, Charlotte
- ORCID
- Venue
- Cognitive Behaviour Therapy
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2023-03-27
- Volume
- 52
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 380-396
- ISSN
- 1650-6073 (ISSN-L)
- 1651-2316
- OpenAlex
- W4361007814
- Cited by
- 5
- References
- 54
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 1
- FWCI
- 1.45
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Diva portal (Dalarna University Library) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- Funders
- Karolinska University Hospital
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Digital Mental Health Interventions
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Musculoskeletal pain and rehabilitation
- Keywords
- acceptance and commitment therapy, chronic pain, digital interventions, pain interference, psychological flexibility, pain duration, insomnia symptoms, medication adherence, comorbid symptoms, behavior therapy
- MeSH terms
- Behavior Therapy, Humans, Treatment Outcome, Chronic Pain, Pain Management, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
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