274 Participants Needed

Yoga vs Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Chronic Pain

PB
Overseen ByPeter Bayley, PhD
Age: 18+
Sex: Any
Trial Phase: Academic
Sponsor: Palo Alto Veterans Institute for Research
No Placebo GroupAll trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This study will compare online yoga with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), an established treatment for chronic pain. We will compare the efficacy of the two treatments for reducing chronic musculoskeletal pain in veterans.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial requires that you have a stable medication regimen for at least 4 weeks before joining, so you should not start new pain treatments or medications in the month before the study. However, it does not specify that you need to stop your current medications.

Is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) safe for humans?

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is generally considered safe for humans, as it is a form of cognitive-behavioral therapy that focuses on mindfulness and acceptance skills.12345

How is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) different from other treatments for chronic pain?

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is unique because it focuses on helping patients accept their pain and commit to living a meaningful life despite it, rather than trying to eliminate the pain itself. This approach is different from traditional pain treatments that often focus on reducing or eliminating pain symptoms.56789

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for chronic pain?

Research shows that Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is beneficial for people with chronic pain, with evidence supporting its use in improving access to care through digital solutions and its potential as a cost-effective treatment option.145610

Who Is on the Research Team?

PB

Peter Bayley, PhD

Principal Investigator

Palo Alto Veterans Institute for Research

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for veterans experiencing long-term musculoskeletal pain. Participants should be comfortable with using online tools as both treatments are delivered virtually.

Inclusion Criteria

I haven't started any new pain treatments or medications in the last month.
Wireless internet connection at home
Minimum pain intensity at screening ≥4 on a 0-10 using the Defense and Veterans Pain Rating Scale (DVPRS)
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Exclusion Criteria

Attended or practiced yoga ≥ 1 x in the past 12 months
My pain level is either less than 4 or more than 9 out of 10.
Participation in another clinical trial, unless given prior authorization from both our research team and that of the other study
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Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive either online yoga instruction or Acceptance and Commitment Therapy once a week for 12 weeks in an online group class

12 weeks
12 visits (virtual)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment, with check-ins to record any adverse events

6 months

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

  • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
  • Yoga
Trial Overview The study aims to determine if online yoga classes or Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is more effective in reducing chronic musculoskeletal pain among veterans.
How Is the Trial Designed?
2Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Active Control
Group I: Online YogaExperimental Treatment1 Intervention
Postures, meditation, breathing exercises
Group II: Acceptance and Commitment TherapyActive Control1 Intervention
Behavioral medicine

Find a Clinic Near You

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Palo Alto Veterans Institute for Research

Lead Sponsor

Trials
58
Recruited
8,800+

Published Research Related to This Trial

In a study of 415 participants undergoing an ACT-based pain management program, three distinct psychological flexibility (PF) profiles were identified: low PF, low openness, and high awareness and action, indicating that individuals with chronic pain have varied psychological characteristics.
Despite these differences in baseline PF profiles, all subgroups showed similar responses to ACT treatment, suggesting that ACT may be effective across different psychological profiles, but further research is needed to tailor treatments to individual needs.
Predictors of outcomes following interdisciplinary acceptance and commitment therapy for chronic pain: Profiling psychological flexibility.Yu, L., McCracken, LM., Scott, W.[2022]
The ACTsmart intervention, a smartphone-delivered acceptance and commitment therapy, showed significant improvements in pain interference among 34 adults with chronic pain after 8 weeks of treatment, with a large effect size (d = -1.01).
All secondary outcomes, including psychological flexibility and quality of life, also improved significantly and these benefits were maintained for up to 12 months, suggesting that ACTsmart is an effective and accessible treatment option for chronic pain.
ACTsmart: Guided Smartphone-Delivered Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Chronic Pain-A Pilot Trial.Gentili, C., Zetterqvist, V., Rickardsson, J., et al.[2023]
A study involving 481 potential participants with chronic pain showed that Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is feasible to implement in general practice, with 73 participants allocated to either ACT plus usual care or usual care alone.
The majority of participants (70.3%) attended most ACT sessions and rated the treatment as credible, indicating that ACT could be a promising and acceptable option for managing chronic pain in primary care settings.
A feasibility study of brief group-based acceptance and commitment therapy for chronic pain in general practice: recruitment, attendance, and patient views.McCracken, LM., Sato, A., Wainwright, D., et al.[2022]

Citations

Predictors of outcomes following interdisciplinary acceptance and commitment therapy for chronic pain: Profiling psychological flexibility. [2022]
ACTsmart: Guided Smartphone-Delivered Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Chronic Pain-A Pilot Trial. [2023]
A feasibility study of brief group-based acceptance and commitment therapy for chronic pain in general practice: recruitment, attendance, and patient views. [2022]
Acceptance and commitment therapy for chronic pain conditions on functioning: A systematic review protocol. [2021]
Online Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) interventions for chronic pain: A systematic literature review. [2022]
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Delivered via a Mobile Phone Messaging Robot to Decrease Postoperative Opioid Use in Patients With Orthopedic Trauma: Randomized Controlled Trial. [2020]
Acceptance and commitment therapy - pathways for general practitioners. [2012]
Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy in Central Pain Sensitization Syndromes: A Systematic Review. [2021]
Internet-Delivered Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Adolescents with Chronic Pain and Their Parents: A Nonrandomized Pilot Trial. [2021]
Exercise and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Chronic Pain: A Case Series with One-Year Follow-Up. [2021]
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