Comparing the effectiveness of treatment based on acceptance and commitment and mindfulness therapy on chronic pain in people with drug addiction

Not only can the experience of pain be a factor for drug use, but it can also be a motivation to use drugs again during and after treatment.

The purpose of the present study was to compare the effectiveness of acceptance and commitment-based therapy and mindfulness-based therapy on chronic pain in People with drug addiction.

The research method was semi-experimental with a pre-test-post-test design and a control group with one-month follow-up. The statistical population included people suffering from drug abuse who referred to addiction treatment clinics in Arak city in 2021. Using available sampling method, 60 people were selected and randomly put/ placed in experimental and control groups (20 people in each group). The research tool included the revised McGill Pain Questionnaire (2009). Mindfulness therapy was implemented in 8 sessions (90 minutes each session) and acceptance and commitment based therapy was also implemented in 8 sessions (90 minutes each session). Data were analyzed using SPSS-25 statistical software and covariance analysis.

The results of covariance analysis for chronic pain in the post-test and follow-up phase showed/ demonstrated a significant difference (P=0.001). Both treatments had a significant effect on the improvement of chronic pain, and it is worth noting that this effect was greater for the treatment group for whom the treatment was based on acceptance and commitment (P=0.01).

Treatment based on acceptance and commitment showed more effectiveness in improving chronic pain compared to mindfulness. Therefore, the use of acceptance and commitment-based therapy is recommended to improve chronic pain in people suffering from drug abuse.