title: Implementing an acceptance and commitment therapy group protocol with veterans using VA's stepped care model of pain management.
abstract: The purpose of the current study was to replicate and extend previous findings; further demonstrating the effectiveness of an ACT outpatient, group-based treatment for Veterans who suffer from mixed idiopathic, chronic, non-cancer pain. This course of treatment utilized the VA's Stepped Care Model of Pain Management as a framework. A sample of 50 Veterans who participated in an ACT for chronic pain group intervention was evaluated after completing a pain health education program at a Midwestern VA Medical Center between February 16, 2010 and November 9, 2010. All participants completed a standard set of pre- and post-intervention measures. Paired-samples t tests were conducted to evaluate the impact of the manualized intervention on Veterans' scores. The current study found a significant difference in measures of pain interference, illness-focused coping, and global distress upon completion of the intervention. Findings suggest that ACT is an effective treatment for Veterans with chronic pain as a secondary consultative service.
authors.affiliation: Anesthesiology/Pain Clinic #124, Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA. david.cosio2@va.gov.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cosio
authors.affiliation: Home-Based Primary Care, Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Tracy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Schafer
mesh_terms: D064869:Acceptance and Commitment Therapy; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D059408:Pain Management / Q000379:methods*; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States; D014493:United States Department of Veterans Affairs; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy; Chronic pain; Distress; Effectiveness; Group psychotherapy; Veterans