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Benefits of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for Chronic Pain Maria Kleinstaeuber, Ashley Yaugher, Emily Roundy, and Michael Levin
What Is Chronic Pain?
According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, pain is your body signaling that you have been, are, or are expecting to be injured or ill (NINDS, 2024). Pain is an unpleasant experience that motivates us to care for our bodies and avoid harmful behaviors. The International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) emphasizes that pain is not just a "sensory" but also an "emotional" experience (IASP, 1994). Pain is highly personal, and no two people feel pain the same way. Our experience of pain is influenced to varying degrees by biological, psychological, and social factors (IASP, 1994). Commonly, pain is temporary or “acute,” meaning it often goes away when the cause of the pain is resolved. In some cases, pain can be experienced for long periods, known as “chronic pain.” Chronic pain can last over three months or for more than the expected healing time (NINDS, 2024). In 2021, approximately 21% of Americans reported experiencing chronic pain (Rikard et al., 2023). There is not always a known reason why someone is experiencing chronic pain. This challenge can make it difficult to treat, and sometimes, it cannot be “cured” (Rikard et al., 2023). Fortunately, there are many options to help alleviate and cope with chronic pain that allow people to live their lives while managing their chronic pain (Driscoll et al., 2021).
Are There Benefits of Psychological or Alternative Treatments for Chronic Pain?
Opioid pain medications are one option to relieve temporary or acute pain, but they may not always be the best option for managing chronic pain. Opioids are not proven to be the most effective strategy, nor are they sustainable for long-term chronic pain treatment (Volkow & McLellan, 2016). 1