Self-Compassion and Acute Pain

Philipps University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Acute Pain

Treatments: Other: Distraction; Other: Self-Compassion; Other: Acceptance; Other: Heat pain

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03647683

2017-60v

Details and patient eligibility

About

Research on self-compassion suggests its impact in the context of pain. In the current study, the investigators evaluate a short self-compassion intervention for coping with acute pain.

Full description

Self-compassion comprises three components: self-kindness, common humanity and mindfulness. Empirical evidence shows the relevance of self-compassion in the context of negative emotions such as depression, anxiety and anger. Research on chronic pain is promising yet limited. Self-compassion is associated with better pain-coping, pain-acceptance and quality of life, as well as reduced pain-related disability and burdening emotions. Experimental investigations on induced pain are missing. The aim of the current study is to evaluate a short self-compassion intervention for pain.

First, a heat stimulus is induced to all participants which is to be tolerated as long as possible and evaluated in intensity and unpleasantness. Next, participants receive a coping-strategy which they are randomly assigned to. Three different strategies are evaluated: (1) self-compassion, treating oneself with kindness while being mindfully aware of the painful stimulus, (2) acceptance, accepting the painful stimulus as well as pain-related thoughts, not trying to change, (3) distraction, distracting oneself from the painful stimulus and trying not to perceive the pain or painful thoughts. Participants practice the strategy with the painful heat stimulus three times. Then, they receive another heat stimulus which is to be tolerated as long as possible and evaluated. During the next week, participants obtain daily practices via e-mail for further fostering of the learned strategy. Finally, participants receive, tolerate and evaluate pain again in the laboratory.

Enrollment: 120 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• sufficient german language knowledge
• at least 18 years old

Exclusion criteria

• acute or chronic pain conditions
• drug or pain-medication (last 24 hours)
• Raynaud's disease
• high blood pressure
• neuropathy, coronary diseases
• diabetes, current alcohol
• studying psychology longer than two years

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

---

120 participants in 3 patient groups

Self-Compassion

Experimental group

Description:

After pretreatment heat pain assessment, participants are introduced to the concept of self-compassion. Participants practice the new strategy with heat pain stimuli three times. Next, the posttreatment pain assessment is conducted. For a one week period, participants receive daily self-compassion audio-interventions. Afterwards, the follow-up pain assessment is conducted.

Treatment:

Other: Self-Compassion

Other: Heat pain

Acceptance

Experimental group

Description:

After pretreatment heat pain assessment, participants are introduced to the concept of acceptance. Participants practice the new strategy with heat pain stimuli three times. Next, the posttreatment pain assessment is conducted. For a one week period, participants receive daily acceptance audio-interventions. Afterwards, the follow-up pain assessment is conducted.

Treatment:

Other: Acceptance

Other: Heat pain

Distraction

Experimental group

Description:

After pretreatment heat pain assessment, participants are introduced to the concept of distraction. Participants practice the new strategy with heat pain stimuli three times. Next, the posttreatment pain assessment is conducted. For a one week period, participants receive daily distraction audio-interventions. Afterwards, the follow-up pain assessment is conducted.

Treatment:

Other: Distraction

Other: Heat pain