Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Chronic Pain

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Colorado, Denver

Disqualifiers: Brain cancer, Spinal cancer, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

Duration: 8 weeks

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to help cancer survivors manage chronic pain using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), a type of talk therapy that encourages embracing thoughts and feelings rather than fighting them. Participants will receive either ACT alongside their usual pain medications or just their usual pain treatment. It is suitable for those who completed cancer treatments such as surgery or chemotherapy at least three months ago and continue to experience persistent pain affecting daily activities. As an unphased trial, this study provides a unique opportunity for participants to explore innovative pain management strategies that could enhance their quality of life.

Do I have to stop taking my current medications for the trial?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It's best to discuss this with the study team to get a clear answer.

What prior data suggests that Acceptance and Commitment Therapy is safe for managing chronic pain in cancer survivors?

Studies have shown that Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is generally safe for people with chronic pain. Research indicates that ACT can help individuals manage pain more effectively and enhance daily activities. Most participants tolerate it well, and the benefits often persist after therapy concludes.

One study found that ACT is suitable and practical for use in regular healthcare settings, reinforcing its safety. While not everyone may experience benefits from ACT, studies have not reported any major safety concerns. Therefore, those considering joining a trial can feel confident about the safety of this therapy for managing chronic pain. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for chronic pain because it offers a unique approach by focusing on psychological flexibility rather than just symptom relief. Unlike traditional treatments such as medications or physical therapy that primarily aim to reduce pain intensity, ACT helps patients change their relationship with pain by accepting it and committing to valued actions despite its presence. This approach can empower individuals to lead fulfilling lives even with chronic pain, providing a holistic alternative to standard pain management options.

What evidence suggests that Acceptance and Commitment Therapy is effective for managing chronic pain in cancer survivors?

Research has shown that Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), which participants in this trial may receive, can help manage chronic pain. One study found that ACT works as well as, or sometimes better than, other treatments for chronic pain. ACT has been proven to improve functioning even when pain persists. Other research indicates that ACT helps people accept their pain and continue with daily activities. These findings suggest that ACT could be a promising option for cancer survivors dealing with chronic pain. ^{2 6 7 8 9}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Elissa Kolva, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of Colorado, Denver

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for cancer survivors aged 18-100 who've been out of active treatment for at least three months, speak English, and are mentally stable. They should have had solid tumor cancers, be free of or have stable chronic disease, and experience moderate to severe pain from their cancer that's lasted over three months.

Inclusion Criteria

My cancer-related pain is moderate to severe, scoring 4 or higher.

Provision to sign and date the consent form

Stated willingness to comply with all study procedures and be available for the duration of the study

Exclusion Criteria

You have difficulties being part of a group because of things like feeling very nervous in social situations, or being in a group would make it harder for you to get the care you need.

My pain is not caused by my cancer.

I have been diagnosed with a brain or central nervous system cancer.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and medication management for chronic pain

8 weeks

Weekly sessions

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

12 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

Trial Overview The study tests Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) as a way to manage chronic pain in cancer survivors against the usual treatments they receive. Participants will either receive ACT sessions or continue with their regular care to see which helps more with pain.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants will receive both the ACT intervention and medication management that is given as usual treatment.

Group II: Treatment as Usual Active Control 1 Intervention

Treatment as usual will include ongoing provision of usual treatment options for pain management.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Colorado, Denver

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,842

Recruited

3,028,000+

Citations

1. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27479642/

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for Chronic ... The objective of this review was to determine the clinical effectiveness of ACT for chronic pain in adults when compared with control conditions and other ...

2. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36827194/

The Efficacy of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for ... ACT is effective and comparable to, if not better than, some other available active treatments for chronic pain.

3. journals.plos.org journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0301226

Acceptance and commitment therapy for patients with chronic ... The results showed that at post-treatment and three months post-treatment, ACT had small to large ES on pain interference, functional impairment ...

4. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1526590023005394

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Chronic Pain: An ... Overall, however, randomized clinical trials and systematic reviews show that ACT can improve outcomes related to chronic pain (eg, pain-related functioning).

5. tandfonline.com tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/24740527.2025.2515106

The efficacy of a clustered group-based acceptance and ... A group-based ACT for chronic pain clustered into 3-day bouts may strengthen pain acceptance processes, including pain willingness and activity engagement.

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11092929/

a systematic review and meta-analysis - PMC - PubMed Central The results suggest ACT improved outcomes in patients with FM: there was an overall improvement in all outcomes post-intervention, with most maintained at ...

7. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9543918/

Predictors of outcomes following interdisciplinary acceptance ... There remain people with chronic pain who do not benefit from acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and predicting treatment response is difficult.

8. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0005796723000578

The efficacy of acceptance and commitment therapy for ... The present meta-analysis suggests sufficient evidence for the significant benefits of ACT for people with chronic pain.

9. bmcprimcare.biomedcentral.com bmcprimcare.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12875-022-01690-2

Addressing chronic pain with Focused Acceptance and ... Findings support that FACT-CP was acceptable for patients with chronic pain and feasible for delivery in a primary care setting by a BHC.