Raluca GEORGESCU1,2, Anca DOBREAN1,3, Elena PREDESCU4
ancadobrean@psychology.ro
1 The International Institute for The Advanced Studies of Psychotherapy and Applied Mental Health, Babeș-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
2 Evidence Based Psychological Assessment and Interventions Doctoral School, Babeș-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
3 Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Babeş-Bolyai University, Republicii Street 37, 400015, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
4 Department of Neuroscience, Psychiatry and Pediatric Psychiatry, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj- Napoca, Romania
Abstract
Cognitive behaviour therapy through cognitive restructuring is often used to challenge the dysfunctional thoughts regarding pain. Adjacent, acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) uses acceptance or cognitive diffusion techniques to change the function of negative pain thoughts rather than modify their content. Previous research has shown that acceptance increases the pain tolerance. This study sought to replicate and extend these findings by comparing the impact of acceptance with that of cognitive restructuring and distraction in a sample of participants with induced pain using cold water. Participants (N=95) received a detailed training how to successfully apply these strategies when experiencing pain and then practiced the assigned technique as homework for 1 week. Before the training, after the training and after 1-week practice participant’s measures of pain intensity and pain tolerance were taken. Results suggest that these strategies are equally effective in increasing pain tolerance and decrease pain intensity but work through distinct processes of change. Findings are discussed in the context of theoretical and practical implications and provide further directions.
Keywords: acute pain, induced pain, cognitive restructuring, acceptance, distraction.
Doi: 10.24193/jebp.2018.2.19
Published online: 2018/09/01
Published print: 2018/09/01
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