Self-Compassion and Acute Pain
- Conditions
- Acute Pain
- Interventions
- Other: Self-CompassionOther: AcceptanceOther: DistractionOther: Heat pain
- Registration Number
- NCT03647683
- Lead Sponsor
- Philipps University Marburg Medical Center
- Brief Summary
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.
- Detailed 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.
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- COMPLETED
- Sex
- All
- Target Recruitment
- 120
- sufficient german language knowledge
- at least 18 years old
- 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
Study & Design
- Study Type
- INTERVENTIONAL
- Study Design
- PARALLEL
- Arm && Interventions
Group Intervention Description Self-Compassion Self-Compassion 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. Self-Compassion Heat pain 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. Distraction Heat pain 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. Acceptance Acceptance 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. Acceptance Heat pain 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. Distraction Distraction 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.
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Individual heat pain tolerance Baseline, 45 min, 1 week Change in the individual heat pain tolerance (the point when participants cannot stand the heat pain stimulus any longer)
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Pain intensity Baseline, 45 min, 1 week Change in subjective pain intensity assessed using a numeric rating scale (ranging from 0 to 10, with higher values reflecting more pain intensity)
Change in pain unpleasantness scale Baseline, 45 min, 1 week Change in subjective pain unpleasentness assessed using a numeric rating scale (ranging from 0 to 10, with higher values reflecting more pain unpleasentness)
Change in self-compassion Baseline, 45 min, 1 week Change in overall self-compassion assessed using the self-compassion scale (Neff, 2003) (higher values indicating higher self-compassion
Trial Locations
- Locations (1)
Philipps-University of Marburg
🇩🇪Marburg, Hessen, Germany