The Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Group Therapy on Pain in Patients with Chronic Low Back Pain

Most people who suffer from chronic pain are exposed to major physical and mental problems and general health disorders throughout their lives. The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of acceptance and commitment group therapy based on pain in patients with chronic low back pain.

This study was a clinical trial and statistical population of 116 patients with chronic low back pain referred to Razi clinic pain clinic. The McGill Pain Questionnaire was used for data collection that its aim to assess people's perception of different dimensions (Sensory perception of pain, Emotional perception of pain, perception of pain Assessment and Various pains). 28 out of 116 patients they have been divided randomly in to a test-group and a control-group each 14 members. Intervention based on ACT has been done on test group for 8 sessions, each 1 hour and half. Finally, quantitative and qualitative tests for descriptive variables and Mann Whitney test Chi-squared test, Fisher exact test and Wilcoxon test with significant level P < 0.05.

A high percentage were female with average age of 40.25 ± 8.10 and there was not any significant statistical difference in their pain score and various dimensions. There was not any statistically significant difference between the pain score and its different dimensions before the intervention. The results of pain score in terms of sensory perception, pain assessment perception and in general before and after the intervention in the test group (P = 0.039) and the overall score between the two groups were statistically significant (P = 0.035). However, there were not any meaningful statistical changes in pain score and its different dimension before, after and three months after intervention in experimental group.

Based on the findings of this study, it seems that acceptance and commitment therapy has been able to affect sensory perception, pain assessment and total score, and may represent new horizons in clinical treatment and can be used as an effective intervention method.