title: Acceptance-versus change-based pain management: the role of psychological acceptance.
abstract: This study compared two theoretically opposed strategies for acute pain management: an acceptance-based and a change-based approach. These two strategies were compared in a within-subjects design using the cold pressor test as an acute pain induction method. Participants completed a baseline pain tolerance assessment followed by one of the two interventions and another pain tolerance test. The alternate strategy was presented in a separate, but otherwise identical, experimental session. On average, both interventions significantly increased pain tolerance relative to baseline, with no significant difference between the two intervention conditions. Baseline psychological acceptance emerged as a significant moderator of intervention efficacy; individuals with a high level of acceptance benefited significantly more from the acceptance intervention, whereas those with a low level of acceptance benefited more from the change-based intervention. Implications for increasing the effectiveness of psychotherapeutic treatments based on individual differences are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA. kara.blacker@temple.edu
authors.forename: Kara J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Blacker
authors.forename: James D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Herbert
authors.forename: Evan M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Forman
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kounios
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019122:Meditation / Q000523:psychology*; D059408:Pain Management / Q000523:psychology*; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data