title: Age moderates response to acceptance and commitment therapy vs. cognitive behavioral therapy for chronic pain.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to examine age differences in response to different forms of psychotherapy for chronic pain.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a secondary analysis of 114 adults (ages 18-89 years) with a variety of chronic, nonmalignant pain conditions randomly assigned to 8 weeks of group-administered acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) or cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Treatment response was defined as a drop of at least three points on the Brief Pain Inventory-interference subscale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Older adults were more likely to respond to ACT, and younger adults to CBT, both immediately following treatment and at 6-month follow-up. There were no significant differences in credibility, expectations of positive outcome, attrition, or satisfaction, although there was a trend for the youngest adults (ages 18-45 years) to complete fewer sessions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data suggest that ACT may be an effective and acceptable treatment for chronic pain in older adults.
authors.affiliation: VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, USA.|University of California, San Diego, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Julie Loebach
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Wetherell
authors.affiliation: University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Andrew J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Petkus
authors.affiliation: Rey Juan Carlos University, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Miriam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alonso-Fernandez
authors.affiliation: SDSU/UCSD Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, San Diego, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Emily S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Bower
authors.affiliation: VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Amanda R W
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Steiner
authors.affiliation: VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, USA.|University of California, San Diego, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Niloofar
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Afari
mesh_terms: D064869:Acceptance and Commitment Therapy; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000628:therapy*; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group / Q000379:methods; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: chronic pain; mindfulness; psychotherapy