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Age moderates response to acceptance and commitment therapy vs. cognitive behavioral therapy for chronic pain
Author(s) -
Wetherell Julie Loebach,
Petkus Andrew J.,
AlonsoFernandez Miriam,
Bower Emily S.,
Steiner Amanda R. W.,
Afari Niloofar
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
international journal of geriatric psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.28
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1099-1166
pISSN - 0885-6230
DOI - 10.1002/gps.4330
Subject(s) - chronic pain , attrition , acceptance and commitment therapy , psychology , cognitive behavioral therapy , cognitive therapy , cognition , young adult , clinical psychology , brief pain inventory , medicine , psychiatry , intervention (counseling) , developmental psychology , dentistry
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. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.