Exploring psychological flexibility as in-treatment behaviour during internet-delivered acceptance and commitment therapy for paediatric chronic pain

Occurrence and relation to outcome

Bibliographic Data

ID15711164
AuthorsCharlotte Gentili (0000-0002-1557-7043, Karolinska University Hospital), Jenny Rickardsson (0000-0003-3791-0158, Karolinska Institutet), Linda Holmström (0000-0001-9667-2378, Karolinska Institutet), Rikard K Wicksell (0000-0002-3525-7573, Karolinska Institutet), Hugo Hesser (0000-0002-9736-8228, Örebro University), Vendela Zetterqvist (0000-0003-1860-9589, Karolinska Institutet, corresponding author)
Year2024
Volume31
Pages100725-100725
Publication date2024-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Contextual Behavioral Science (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2212-1447 • E-ISSN: 2212-1455
PublisherElsevier BV (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1016/j.jcbs.2024.100725
OpenAlexW4391046284
LanguageEN
References cited4

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy has gained preliminary evidence for paediatric chronic pain. Several studies show that psychological flexibility/inflexibility is a process driving treatment change in ACT for chronic pain. The literature supporting psychological flexibility as a change process in ACT is typically based on self-report. The aim of the present study was to investigate psychological flexibility (i.e. acceptance, defusion, values formulation and committed action) as in-treatment behaviour during internet-delivered Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for paediatric chronic pain, by having two independent observers rating patient written statements. The sample was self-recruited and consisted of 28 girls between ages 13 and 17 years. Results showed that psychological flexibility could be operationalised as in-treatment behaviours and reliably assessed using observer ratings. Also, data illustrated a within subject variability in ratings of acceptance and defusion, with a considerable difference in degree of acceptance or defusion evoked by different experiential exercises. Furthermore, analyses showed that a higher average degree of acceptance in patient statements during the early phase of treatment was related to larger treatment effects. Defusion, values formulation and committed action showed no significant influence on outcome. Results should be interpreted with caution due to the small sample size

Acceptance and commitment therapy · Anxiety · Chronic pain · Experiential avoidance · Flexibility (engineering · Intervention (counseling · Psychiatry · Psychological pain · Psychotherapist · Clinical Psychology · Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions · Musculoskeletal pain and rehabilitation · Pediatric Pain Management Techniques · Psychology

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