The Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy on Pain Perception, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and Emotional Inhibition in Patients with Chronic Low Back Pain

Document Type : Original Research

Authors
G. Nozari Kohneh Shahri 1
S. Naderi 2
Z. HasanNezhad 3
S. M. Hashemi 4
S. Hadipour Molasaraei 5
1 M.A. in General Psychology, Imam Khomeini International University, Qazvin, Iran
2 M.A. in Clinical Psychology, Islamic Azad University, Roudehen Branch, Roudehen, Iran
3 M.A. in General Psychology, Payame Noor University, Gorgan Branch, Gorgan, Iran
4 M.A. in General Psychology, Islamic Azad University, Sari Branch, Sari, Iran
5 M.A. in Personality Psychology, Islamic Azad University, South Tehran Branch, Tehran, Iran
10.22034/IJMPP.10.2.1218
Abstract
Aims: Psychological and emotional consequences of chronic low back pain (CLBP) often include anxiety, depression, emotional distress, and reduced quality of life, which can further exacerbate the perception of pain. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) on pain perception, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and emotional inhibition in patients with CLBP.

Method and Materials: The study utilized a quasi-experimental pre-test/post-test design with a control group involving 36 patients with CLBP from clinics in Qazvin in 2024. Participants were purposively selected and randomly assigned to either the intervention group (n=18) or the control group (n=18). The intervention group participated in eight 90-minute sessions of ACT, while the control group received no intervention. Data were collected using the McGill Pain Questionnaire, the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Scale, and the Emotional Inhibition Scale. The data were analyzed using MANCOVA in SPSS-27.

Findings: The results demonstrated that ACT significantly decreases pain perception (F=68.67), PTSD (F=21.39), verbal inhibition (F=64.86), timidity (F=66.08), disguise of feelings (F=67.81), and self-control (F=55.23) in individuals with CLBP (P< 0.001).

Conclusion: This study demonstrates that ACT not only alleviates the physical experience of CLBP but also effectively addresses the psychological barriers, such as PTSD and emotional inhibition, that amplify the condition. By fostering psychological flexibility, ACT offers a holistic approach to improving both the emotional well-being and pain management of CLBP patients.

Keywords

Subjects

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