Acceptance of Pain in Neurological Disorders: Associations With Functioning and Psychosocial Well-Being

Rehabil Psychol, 2013 · DOI: 10.1037/a0031727 · Published: February 1, 2013

Simple Explanation

Chronic pain acceptance involves adjusting to chronic pain. It includes being willing to experience pain and continuing to engage in activities despite the pain. This study looked at whether pain acceptance helps people with chronic pain from neurological disorders, such as muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, post-polio syndrome, or spinal cord injury. The study found that being active and engaged in life, despite pain, was linked to better quality of life, less depression, and less pain interference. Being willing to experience pain was linked to less pain interference and depression.

Study Duration

Not specified

Participants

508 community-dwelling adults with a diagnosis of MD, MS, PPS, or SCI who also endorsed a chronic pain problem

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
Activity engagement predicted lower pain interference and depression, and greater quality of life and social role satisfaction.
2
Pain willingness predicted less pain interference and depression.
3
Together, the two pain acceptance subscales accounted for more variance in outcomes than did self-reported pain intensity.

Research Summary

This study examined the role of pain acceptance in individuals with chronic pain secondary to neurological disorders. The research indicated that activity engagement, a component of pain acceptance, was a strong predictor of adjustment to chronic pain, leading to lower pain interference and depression, and greater quality of life and social role satisfaction. The findings suggest that treatments that increase acceptance may result in positive outcomes in persons with chronic pain secondary to neurological disorders.

Practical Implications

Clinical Implications

Psychological interventions that bolster acceptance of pain may result in improved functioning and well-being for those who have chronic pain in addition to a neurological disorder.

Research Implications

Further investigation of pain acceptance in the context of a neurological disorder may prove useful for improving the treatment of chronic pain associated with these groups.

Treatment approaches

ACT and MBSR interventions, along with traditional cognitive behavioral therapy and operant approaches, can encourage activation and life engagement despite pain.

Study Limitations

1
The relatively well-educated sample of mostly Caucasian race limits our ability to generalize findings to a broader population.
2
Cognitive factors, such as catastrophizing, as well as other pain coping responses that are known to predict pain adjustment and to account for some or all (in rare cases) of the predictive ability of pain acceptance, could not be evaluated.
3
Because of the cross-sectional nature of this study, we are unable to draw conclusions about the direction of the association between acceptance and indicators of adjustment to chronic pain.

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