Development and Feasibility Testing of an Internet-based Pain Self-management Program for Persons With Acute Recurrent and Chronic Pancreatitis Pain (The IMPACT Study)

Acute recurrent pancreatitis (ARP) and chronic pancreatitis (CP) are associated with high disease burden across the lifespan. Recurring abdominal pain is the most prevalent and distressing symptom. Pain severity reduces health-related quality of life for individuals with CP and is associated with increased fatigue, anxiety and depressive symptoms, lower general health status, and reduced physical and role functioning. Medical therapies for CP pain have limited efficacy. Cognitive-behavioral interventions (CBT) offer safe and effective alternatives to pharmacological treatments for pain management. In other chronic painful conditions including gastrointestinal disorders, CBT interventions have been effective for reducing pain and pain impact including disability and depressive symptoms. CBT is traditionally provided by trained psychologists working with individual patients one-on-one or in small groups. Access to CBT is limited by availability of providers, with long waiting lists at centers offering CBT. The Internet is an ideal medium to provide pain self-management interventions that are low-cost and sustainable, and internet-based CBT has shown efficacy in children and adults with chronic pain, allowing clinics to greatly extend their reach to patients. The purpose of this study is to test the acceptability, feasibility, and preliminary efficacy of an Internet-delivered CBT pain self-management course for adults with acute recurrent and chronic pancreatitis pain.