Neurophysiological mechanisms in acceptance and commitment therapy in opioid-addicted patients with chronic pain

Psychiatry Res Neuroimaging. 2016 Apr 30:250:12-4. doi: 10.1016/j.pscychresns.2016.03.001. Epub 2016 Mar 8.

Abstract

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) has been effectively utilized to treat both chronic pain and substance use disorder independently. Given these results and the vital need to treat the comorbidity of the two disorders, a pilot ACT treatment was implemented in individuals with comorbid chronic pain and opioid addiction. This pilot study supported using neurophysiology to characterize treatment effects and revealed that, following ACT, participants with this comorbidity exhibited reductions in brain activation due to painful stimulus and in connectivity at rest.

Keywords: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy; Chronic pain; Opioid addiction.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy / methods*
  • Adult
  • Analgesics, Opioid / adverse effects
  • Behavior, Addictive / epidemiology
  • Behavior, Addictive / psychology
  • Behavior, Addictive / therapy
  • Brain / physiology*
  • Chronic Pain / epidemiology
  • Chronic Pain / psychology*
  • Chronic Pain / therapy*
  • Comorbidity
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Opioid-Related Disorders / epidemiology
  • Opioid-Related Disorders / psychology*
  • Opioid-Related Disorders / therapy*
  • Pilot Projects

Substances

  • Analgesics, Opioid