Persistent Post-surgical PainPreACTNCT02437188
Preventing Persistent Post-Surgical Pain and Opioid Use In At-Risk Veterans: Effect of ACT
A study testing ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) in people with Persistent Post-surgical Pain and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, run by Barbara A Rakel at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
A large number of veterans suffer from distress-based conditions, such as anxiety and depression, putting them at high risk of experiencing persistent pain and prolonged opioid use following surgery. These connections are based on strong and consistent evidence from the literature and our preliminary data. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Persistent Post-surgical Pain, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Substance Use Disorder
- What is being tested?
- ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy)
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 88 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- Feb 2015to Nov 2016
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Age ≥ 18 years.
- Scheduled for orthopedic surgery at the Iowa City VAMC at least 1 month in the future.
- Movement or resting pain ≥ 3 on a 0-10 NRS.
- Score on the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A) ≥ 14; OR
- Score on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD) ≥ 17.
Who cannot join
- Inability to complete study forms because of either mental incapacity or a language barrier;
- Bipolar or psychotic disorder;
- History of brain injury;
- Complication(s) following surgery requiring reoperation or revision.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
A large number of veterans suffer from distress-based conditions, such as anxiety and depression, putting them at high risk of experiencing persistent pain and prolonged opioid use following surgery. These connections are based on strong and consistent evidence from the literature and our preliminary data. The proposed study adds a 1-day workshop of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), followed by an individual "booster" session, to treatment as usual (TAU) to reduce veterans' risk of persistent pain and prolonged opioid use following surgery. ACT has been shown to be effective in reducing chronic pain, anxiety and depression.
This pilot study will establish the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of incorporating ACT into treatment as usual (TAU) to preoperatively target distress-based risk factors. Aim 1 is to establish the feasibility of successfully delivering ACT to at-risk veterans before and after surgery. Aim 2 is to test the preliminary efficacy of ACT on the length and/or amount of pain and opioid use after surgery. Veterans who are anxious or depressed before surgery will be randomly assigned to receive ACT plus TAU or TAU. Outcomes between the two groups will be compared. Aim 3 is to see if PROMIS modules, developed by the National Institute of Health, are useful for assessing pain and other symptoms in veterans. Findings from this study will be used to inform the design and implementation of a larger, well controlled, randomized clinical trial that will evaluate the efficacy of ACT plus TAU for at-risk veterans.
Read more
This study will take place at the Iowa City VA Health Care System (VAMC). Veterans scheduled for orthopedic or open abdominal surgery in 1 to 3 months who score high for anxiety or depression will be randomly assigned to attend a 1-day ACT workshop preoperatively, with an individualize "booster" session postoperatively, or to have TAU. Veterans who receive ACT and trainers who provide the treatment will be interviewed to identify barriers and facilitators to providing ACT to at-risk veterans before and after surgery. Other primarily outcomes are pain and opioid use after surgery. Factors that may affect these outcomes will also be measured, including anxiety, depression, substance use disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and use of other pain meds.
The investigators expect to gain important knowledge about ways to best include ACT as part of routine care for veterans requiring surgery and about the preliminary efficacy of ACT for the prevention of persistent pain and prolonged opioid use following surgery.
Read the detailed description
A large number of veterans suffer from distress-based conditions, such as anxiety and depression, putting them at risk of experiencing persistent pain and prolonged opioid use following surgery. Preventing these problems (our long term goal) for the thousands of veterans who undergo surgery each year can have a dramatic impact on quality of life and productivity, including positive effects on mood, daily activities, sleep, cognitive functions, social life and decreased risk of suicide (1, 2). In addition to these benefits for individual veterans, prevention of these problems can significantly reduce the estimated billions of dollars associated with veterans' utilization of the healthcare system as well as costs associated with lost work productivity, including unemployment and disability benefits (3).
Building on strong and consistent evidence showing that high anxiety and depression put veterans at risk for persistent pain and prolonged opioid use following surgery (4, 5), this proposal tests the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of implementing a 1-day training session with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) in veterans identified to be at-risk prior to surgery. ACT has been shown to significantly lower distress and disability in patients with chronic pain (6-8) and is particularly valuable intervention for the 80% of veterans who experience some level of psychological distress prior to surgery (9) and the 50% of veterans who report they experience pain on a regular basis (10, 11). Current practice does not include psychological interventions specifically aimed at addressing distress-based conditions prior to surgery. This study is a necessary first step in evaluating the efficacy of this novel intervention during a critical juncture in care to benefit veterans and prevent the devastating consequences of persistent pain and prolonged opioid use following surgery.
This project is based on our interdisciplinary team's research on psychological factors predicting persistent pain after total knee replacement (12) and the effect of ACT on depression and pain in depressed migraine sufferers (13). The design of this 1-day workshop was developed based on feedback given by patients who received ACT during co-I Dindo's preliminary study. The rationale for this research is that, once we determine the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of incorporating this 1-day workshop into treatment as usual (TAU) to preoperatively target distress-based risk conditions, findings from this study will be used to inform the design and implementation of a larger, well controlled, randomized clinical trial that will evaluate the efficacy of ACT plus TAU (ACT + TAU) for at-risk veterans. The following specific aims will be achieved:
- Aim #1: The primary aim of this pilot study is to determine the feasibility of successfully delivering a 1-day ACT intervention with at-risk veterans prior to surgery and an individualized "booster" session after surgery. The following aspects of the intervention will be assessed: 1) the number of at-risk veterans who are willing and able to receive the ACT workshops and individual "booster" sessions; 2) veteran identification of barriers and facilitators to receiving the ACT intervention and utilizing the skills taught; 3) trainer identification of barriers and facilitators to providing the ACT intervention with at-risk veterans before and after surgery; and 4) veteran and trainer suggestions about ways to improve the intervention. These aspects will be assessed primarily through guided open-ended interviews after the ACT workshop and 3 months postoperatively.
- Aim #2: To determine if a 1-day preoperative ACT workshop with an individualized "booster" session postoperatively reduces the length and/or amount of pain and opioid use following surgery when compared to treatment as usual (TAU). Participants will be randomized to ACT + TAU or TAU and record pain and opioid use daily after surgery.
- Aim #3: A secondary, exploratory aim is to determine the usability and utility of the Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) modules for assessing pain and associated symptoms in veterans. We will compare modules to the Brief Pain Inventory (Pain Interference), the State/Trait Anxiety Inventory (Anxiety), and the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ)-9 (Depression).
This project has the potential to infuse what is known about effective treatment of chronic pain into the acute care environment to benefit veterans and improve surgical outcomes. It incorporates an interdisciplinary approach to the care of veterans that attends to the psychology of pain.
- Being tested
- ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy)
- Medical subject headings
- Substance-Related Disorders
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy)Behavioural
The 1-day training session with ACT proposed for this study is designed to reduce behavioral avoidance and to enhance acceptance-based coping. The intervention includes: 1) Behavioral Change Training (2.5 hours) involving a) teaching patients how to recognize ineffective patterns of behavior and habits, b) exploring and setting life goals and goals related to mental and physical health, and c) promoting effective and committed actions to achieve these goals despite the urge to do otherwise; 2) Acceptance and Mindfulness Training (2.5 hours) emphasizing new ways of managing troubling thoughts, feelings, and physical sensations (e.g., learning how to recognize, and develop cognitive distance from, unhelpful thoughts and learning how to willingly face experiences that cannot be changed.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| ACT plus TAU | Experimental | Participants randomized to receive ACT will be scheduled to attend a 1-day training session before their preoperative clinic visit. The intervention will incorporate both experiential learning and didactic content, will include a summary of the main concepts at the end of the day, and a manual of the main concepts will be sent home with participants so they can practice the exercises prior to and after surgery. Participants will also receive an individualized phone call "booster" intervention 2 weeks after surgery to address any issues and reinforce the information that was given during the workshop. This will be done to facilitate the participant's use of the skills during the postoperative period. Receives: Behavioral: ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) |
| TAU | No intervention | Current pre-surgery treatment includes a nurse-led patient education class covering the post-operative course and what to expect for pain control and recovery. Patients may be taking analgesia (i.e. opioids and/or non-opioids) preoperatively for a chronic pain condition and are prescribed analgesics, sedatives and/ or anxiolytics immediately prior to surgery. Intraoperatively, regional (i.e., spinal and femoral) anesthesia and analgesia is given and patients receive opioids, non-opioids, anticonvulsants and/or anxiolytics during the immediate postoperative period. Other pain treatments may be used, such as cryotherapy, music therapy, relaxation, imagery, etc. Patients are sent home with analgesia (often a combination medication of an opioid and acetaminophen) for breakthrough pain. |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Percent of Veterans Willing and Able to Receive the ACT Intervention.
The percent of veterans randomized to the ACT intervention who did receive the ACT intervention will be collected.
Measured: Enrollment to 3 months post surgery
Amount of Pain Intensity on 0-10 Numeric Rating Scale
Participants will be asked to rate the intensity of their maximum pain on a vertical, 0-10 numeric rating scale (0-10 NRS) with 0.5 increments at 3 months after surgery. Participants will be asked to provide a number that represents their highest pain intensity during the day if 0 is no pain and 10 is the most intense pain imaginable.
Measured: 3 months post surgery
Amount of Opioid Use
Participants will be asked total daily dose of opioid medications at 3 months after surgery. All opioid doses converted to oral morphine equivalents.
Measured: 3 months post surgery
Length of Pain (Days)
Participants will record their pain daily after surgery via an electronic (REDCap) or hardcopy log. When pain < 3 has been recorded for 5 consecutive days, the first date in the series will be used as the point of cessation and the length of time from surgery to this date will be calculated as the length of pain.
Measured: 6 months post surgery
Length of Opioid Use (Days)
Participants will record all pain medications (i.e. opioids and non-opioids) taken on a computerized pain medication form (or hardcopy log if participant does not have computer access available) until 3 months after surgery. The computerized pain medication form will list the drug name, route, dose, number taken, and date/time of each dose. When 0 doses of opioids have been recorded for 5 consecutive days, the first date in the series will be used as the point of cessation and the length of time from surgery to this date will be calculated as the length of opioid use.
Measured: 6 months post surgery
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted7 May 2015 (estimated)
- Study startFeb 2015
- Primary completionNov 2016
- Study completionNov 2016
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Posted resultsParticipant flow, outcome measures and adverse events reported by the sponsor.
- Publications (15)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Persistent Post-surgical PainStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 88 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Barbara A Rakel
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor-investigator, Barbara A Rakel, University of Iowa
- Investigators
- Barbara Rakel, PhD, Principal investigator, University of Iowa
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT02437188
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 201603778
- Acronym
- PreACT
- Status last verified
- Jun 2019
- First submitted
- 29 Apr 2015
- Last updated
- 1 Aug 2019
- Results posted
- Yes, on ClinicalTrials.gov
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Publications
Caffo O, Amichetti M, Ferro A, Lucenti A, Valduga F, Galligioni E. Pain and quality of life after surgery for breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2003 Jul;80(1):39-48. doi: 10.1023/A:1024435101619.
PubMed 12889597Abyholm AS, Hjortdahl P. [The pain takes hold of life. A qualitative study of how patients with chronic back pain experience and cope with their life situation]. Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen. 1999 Apr 30;119(11):1624-9. Norwegian.
PubMed 10385806Kerns RD, Sellinger J, Goodin BR. Psychological treatment of chronic pain. Annu Rev Clin Psychol. 2011;7:411-34. doi: 10.1146/annurev-clinpsy-090310-120430.
PubMed 21128783Carroll I, Hah J, Mackey S, Ottestad E, Kong JT, Lahidji S, Tawfik V, Younger J, Curtin C. Perioperative interventions to reduce chronic postsurgical pain. J Reconstr Microsurg. 2013 May;29(4):213-22. doi: 10.1055/s-0032-1329921. Epub 2013 Mar 5.
PubMed 23463498Ip HY, Abrishami A, Peng PW, Wong J, Chung F. Predictors of postoperative pain and analgesic consumption: a qualitative systematic review. Anesthesiology. 2009 Sep;111(3):657-77. doi: 10.1097/ALN.0b013e3181aae87a.
PubMed 19672167McCracken LM, Gutierrez-Martinez O. Processes of change in psychological flexibility in an interdisciplinary group-based treatment for chronic pain based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Behav Res Ther. 2011 Apr;49(4):267-74. doi: 10.1016/j.brat.2011.02.004. Epub 2011 Feb 15.
PubMed 21377652McCracken LM, Velleman SC. Psychological flexibility in adults with chronic pain: a study of acceptance, mindfulness, and values-based action in primary care. Pain. 2010 Jan;148(1):141-147. doi: 10.1016/j.pain.2009.10.034. Epub 2009 Nov 28.
PubMed 19945795McCracken LM, Vowles KE. A prospective analysis of acceptance of pain and values-based action in patients with chronic pain. Health Psychol. 2008 Mar;27(2):215-20. doi: 10.1037/0278-6133.27.2.215.
PubMed 18377140Patton CM, Hung M, Lawrence BD, Patel AA, Woodbury AM, Brodke DS, Daubs MD. Psychological distress in a Department of Veterans Affairs spine patient population. Spine J. 2012 Sep;12(9):798-803. doi: 10.1016/j.spinee.2011.10.008. Epub 2011 Nov 16.
PubMed 22088603Otis JD, Keane TM, Kerns RD, Monson C, Scioli E. The development of an integrated treatment for veterans with comorbid chronic pain and posttraumatic stress disorder. Pain Med. 2009 Oct;10(7):1300-11. doi: 10.1111/j.1526-4637.2009.00715.x.
PubMed 19818040Kerns RD, Otis J, Rosenberg R, Reid MC. Veterans' reports of pain and associations with ratings of health, health-risk behaviors, affective distress, and use of the healthcare system. J Rehabil Res Dev. 2003 Sep-Oct;40(5):371-9. doi: 10.1682/jrrd.2003.09.0371.
PubMed 15080222Rakel BA, Blodgett NP, Zimmerman BM, Logsden-Sackett N, Clark C, Noiseux N, Callaghan J, Herr K, Geasland K, Yang X, Sluka KA. Predictors of postoperative movement and resting pain following total knee replacement. Pain. 2012 Nov;153(11):2192-2203. doi: 10.1016/j.pain.2012.06.021. Epub 2012 Jul 25.
PubMed 22840570Dindo L, Recober A, Marchman JN, Turvey C, O'Hara MW. One-day behavioral treatment for patients with comorbid depression and migraine: a pilot study. Behav Res Ther. 2012 Sep;50(9):537-43. doi: 10.1016/j.brat.2012.05.007. Epub 2012 May 27.
PubMed 22728646Dindo L, Zimmerman MB, Hadlandsmyth K, StMarie B, Embree J, Marchman J, Tripp-Reimer T, Rakel B. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Prevention of Chronic Postsurgical Pain and Opioid Use in At-Risk Veterans: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Study. J Pain. 2018 Oct;19(10):1211-1221. doi: 10.1016/j.jpain.2018.04.016. Epub 2018 May 17.
PubMed 29777950Liu W, Dindo L, Hadlandsmyth K, Unick GJ, Zimmerman MB, St Marie B, Embree J, Tripp-Reimer T, Rakel B. Item Response Theory Analysis: PROMIS(R) Anxiety Form and Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale. West J Nurs Res. 2022 Aug;44(8):765-772. doi: 10.1177/01939459211015985. Epub 2021 May 17.
PubMed 33998340
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 1 Aug 2019. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Preventing Persistent Post-Surgical Pain and Opioid Use In At-Risk Veterans: Effect of ACT
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT02437188
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- PreACT / 201603778
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 88 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Barbara A RakelUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- Feb 2015
- Primary completion
- Nov 2016 (actual)
- Study completion
- Nov 2016 (actual)
- First posted
- 7 May 2015 (estimated)
- Results
- Posted 1 Aug 2019
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
A large number of veterans suffer from distress-based conditions, such as anxiety and depression, putting them at high risk of experiencing persistent pain and prolonged opioid use following surgery. These connections are based on strong and consistent evidence from the literature and our preliminary data. The proposed study adds a 1-day workshop of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), followed by an individual "booster" session, to treatment as usual (TAU) to reduce veterans' risk of persistent pain and prolonged opioid use following surgery. ACT has been shown to be effective in reducing chronic pain, anxiety and depression.
This pilot study will establish the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of incorporating ACT into treatment as usual (TAU) to preoperatively target distress-based risk factors. Aim 1 is to establish the feasibility of successfully delivering ACT to at-risk veterans before and after surgery. Aim 2 is to test the preliminary efficacy of ACT on the length and/or amount of pain and opioid use after surgery. Veterans who are anxious or depressed before surgery will be randomly assigned to receive ACT plus TAU or TAU. Outcomes between the two groups will be compared. Aim 3 is to see if PROMIS modules, developed by the National Institute of Health, are useful for assessing pain and other symptoms in veterans. Findings from this study will be used to inform the design and implementation of a larger, well controlled, randomized clinical trial that will evaluate the efficacy of ACT plus TAU for at-risk veterans.
This study will take place at the Iowa City VA Health Care System (VAMC). Veterans scheduled for orthopedic or open abdominal surgery in 1 to 3 months who score high for anxiety or depression will be randomly assigned to attend a 1-day ACT workshop preoperatively, with an individualize "booster" session postoperatively, or to have TAU. Veterans who receive ACT and trainers who provide the treatment will be interviewed to identify barriers and facilitators to providing ACT to at-risk veterans before and after surgery. Other primarily outcomes are pain and opioid use after surgery. Factors that may affect these outcomes will also be measured, including anxiety, depression, substance use disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and use of other pain meds.
The investigators expect to gain important knowledge about ways to best include ACT as part of routine care for veterans requiring surgery and about the preliminary efficacy of ACT for the prevention of persistent pain and prolonged opioid use following surgery.
Detailed description
A large number of veterans suffer from distress-based conditions, such as anxiety and depression, putting them at risk of experiencing persistent pain and prolonged opioid use following surgery. Preventing these problems (our long term goal) for the thousands of veterans who undergo surgery each year can have a dramatic impact on quality of life and productivity, including positive effects on mood, daily activities, sleep, cognitive functions, social life and decreased risk of suicide (1, 2). In addition to these benefits for individual veterans, prevention of these problems can significantly reduce the estimated billions of dollars associated with veterans' utilization of the healthcare system as well as costs associated with lost work productivity, including unemployment and disability benefits (3).
Building on strong and consistent evidence showing that high anxiety and depression put veterans at risk for persistent pain and prolonged opioid use following surgery (4, 5), this proposal tests the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of implementing a 1-day training session with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) in veterans identified to be at-risk prior to surgery. ACT has been shown to significantly lower distress and disability in patients with chronic pain (6-8) and is particularly valuable intervention for the 80% of veterans who experience some level of psychological distress prior to surgery (9) and the 50% of veterans who report they experience pain on a regular basis (10, 11). Current practice does not include psychological interventions specifically aimed at addressing distress-based conditions prior to surgery. This study is a necessary first step in evaluating the efficacy of this novel intervention during a critical juncture in care to benefit veterans and prevent the devastating consequences of persistent pain and prolonged opioid use following surgery.
This project is based on our interdisciplinary team's research on psychological factors predicting persistent pain after total knee replacement (12) and the effect of ACT on depression and pain in depressed migraine sufferers (13). The design of this 1-day workshop was developed based on feedback given by patients who received ACT during co-I Dindo's preliminary study. The rationale for this research is that, once we determine the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of incorporating this 1-day workshop into treatment as usual (TAU) to preoperatively target distress-based risk conditions, findings from this study will be used to inform the design and implementation of a larger, well controlled, randomized clinical trial that will evaluate the efficacy of ACT plus TAU (ACT + TAU) for at-risk veterans. The following specific aims will be achieved:
- Aim #1: The primary aim of this pilot study is to determine the feasibility of successfully delivering a 1-day ACT intervention with at-risk veterans prior to surgery and an individualized "booster" session after surgery. The following aspects of the intervention will be assessed: 1) the number of at-risk veterans who are willing and able to receive the ACT workshops and individual "booster" sessions; 2) veteran identification of barriers and facilitators to receiving the ACT intervention and utilizing the skills taught; 3) trainer identification of barriers and facilitators to providing the ACT intervention with at-risk veterans before and after surgery; and 4) veteran and trainer suggestions about ways to improve the intervention. These aspects will be assessed primarily through guided open-ended interviews after the ACT workshop and 3 months postoperatively.
- Aim #2: To determine if a 1-day preoperative ACT workshop with an individualized "booster" session postoperatively reduces the length and/or amount of pain and opioid use following surgery when compared to treatment as usual (TAU). Participants will be randomized to ACT + TAU or TAU and record pain and opioid use daily after surgery.
- Aim #3: A secondary, exploratory aim is to determine the usability and utility of the Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) modules for assessing pain and associated symptoms in veterans. We will compare modules to the Brief Pain Inventory (Pain Interference), the State/Trait Anxiety Inventory (Anxiety), and the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ)-9 (Depression).
This project has the potential to infuse what is known about effective treatment of chronic pain into the acute care environment to benefit veterans and improve surgical outcomes. It incorporates an interdisciplinary approach to the care of veterans that attends to the psychology of pain.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| ACT plus TAU | Experimental | Behavioral: ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy)Participants randomized to receive ACT will be scheduled to attend a 1-day training session before their preoperative clinic visit. The intervention will incorporate both experiential learning and didactic content, will include a summary of the main concepts at the end of the day, and a manual of the main concepts will be sent home with participants so they can practice the exercises prior to and after surgery. Participants will also receive an individualized phone call "booster" intervention 2 weeks after surgery to address any issues and reinforce the information that was given during the workshop. This will be done to facilitate the participant's use of the skills during the postoperative period. |
| TAU | No intervention | –Current pre-surgery treatment includes a nurse-led patient education class covering the post-operative course and what to expect for pain control and recovery. Patients may be taking analgesia (i.e. opioids and/or non-opioids) preoperatively for a chronic pain condition and are prescribed analgesics, sedatives and/ or anxiolytics immediately prior to surgery. Intraoperatively, regional (i.e., spinal and femoral) anesthesia and analgesia is given and patients receive opioids, non-opioids, anticonvulsants and/or anxiolytics during the immediate postoperative period. Other pain treatments may be used, such as cryotherapy, music therapy, relaxation, imagery, etc. Patients are sent home with analgesia (often a combination medication of an opioid and acetaminophen) for breakthrough pain. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Age ≥ 18 years.
- Scheduled for orthopedic surgery at the Iowa City VAMC at least 1 month in the future.
- Movement or resting pain ≥ 3 on a 0-10 NRS.
- Score on the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A) ≥ 14; OR
- Score on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD) ≥ 17.
Key exclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Inability to complete study forms because of either mental incapacity or a language barrier;
- Bipolar or psychotic disorder;
- History of brain injury;
- Complication(s) following surgery requiring reoperation or revision.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy)The 1-day training session with ACT proposed for this study is designed to reduce behavioral avoidance and to enhance acceptance-based coping. The intervention includes: 1) Behavioral Change Training (2.5 hours) involving a) teaching patients how to recognize ineffective patterns of behavior and habits, b) exploring and setting life goals and goals related to mental and physical health, and c) promoting effective and committed actions to achieve these goals despite the urge to do otherwise; 2) Acceptance and Mindfulness Training (2.5 hours) emphasizing new ways of managing troubling thoughts, feelings, and physical sensations (e.g., learning how to recognize, and develop cognitive distance from, unhelpful thoughts and learning how to willingly face experiences that cannot be changed. | Behavioural | ACT plus TAU |
Primary outcome
Percent of Veterans Willing and Able to Receive the ACT Intervention.
Time frame: Enrollment to 3 months post surgery
The percent of veterans randomized to the ACT intervention who did receive the ACT intervention will be collected.
Amount of Pain Intensity on 0-10 Numeric Rating Scale
Time frame: 3 months post surgery
Participants will be asked to rate the intensity of their maximum pain on a vertical, 0-10 numeric rating scale (0-10 NRS) with 0.5 increments at 3 months after surgery. Participants will be asked to provide a number that represents their highest pain intensity during the day if 0 is no pain and 10 is the most intense pain imaginable.
Amount of Opioid Use
Time frame: 3 months post surgery
Participants will be asked total daily dose of opioid medications at 3 months after surgery. All opioid doses converted to oral morphine equivalents.
Length of Pain (Days)
Time frame: 6 months post surgery
Participants will record their pain daily after surgery via an electronic (REDCap) or hardcopy log. When pain < 3 has been recorded for 5 consecutive days, the first date in the series will be used as the point of cessation and the length of time from surgery to this date will be calculated as the length of pain.
Length of Opioid Use (Days)
Time frame: 6 months post surgery
Participants will record all pain medications (i.e. opioids and non-opioids) taken on a computerized pain medication form (or hardcopy log if participant does not have computer access available) until 3 months after surgery. The computerized pain medication form will list the drug name, route, dose, number taken, and date/time of each dose. When 0 doses of opioids have been recorded for 5 consecutive days, the first date in the series will be used as the point of cessation and the length of time from surgery to this date will be calculated as the length of opioid use.
Results and safety
Loading the posted results from ClinicalTrials.gov…
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 1 Aug 2019.
- Posted resultsParticipant flow, baseline, all outcome measures and adverse events.
- Background: PubMed 12889597Caffo O, Amichetti M, Ferro A, Lucenti A, Valduga F, Galligioni E. Pain and quality of life after surgery for breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2003 Jul;80(1):39-48. doi: 10.1023/A:1024435101619.
- Background: PubMed 10385806Abyholm AS, Hjortdahl P. [The pain takes hold of life. A qualitative study of how patients with chronic back pain experience and cope with their life situation]. Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen. 1999 Apr 30;119(11):1624-9. Norwegian.
- Background: PubMed 21128783Kerns RD, Sellinger J, Goodin BR. Psychological treatment of chronic pain. Annu Rev Clin Psychol. 2011;7:411-34. doi: 10.1146/annurev-clinpsy-090310-120430.
- Background: PubMed 23463498Carroll I, Hah J, Mackey S, Ottestad E, Kong JT, Lahidji S, Tawfik V, Younger J, Curtin C. Perioperative interventions to reduce chronic postsurgical pain. J Reconstr Microsurg. 2013 May;29(4):213-22. doi: 10.1055/s-0032-1329921. Epub 2013 Mar 5.
- Background: PubMed 19672167Ip HY, Abrishami A, Peng PW, Wong J, Chung F. Predictors of postoperative pain and analgesic consumption: a qualitative systematic review. Anesthesiology. 2009 Sep;111(3):657-77. doi: 10.1097/ALN.0b013e3181aae87a.
- Background: PubMed 21377652McCracken LM, Gutierrez-Martinez O. Processes of change in psychological flexibility in an interdisciplinary group-based treatment for chronic pain based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Behav Res Ther. 2011 Apr;49(4):267-74. doi: 10.1016/j.brat.2011.02.004. Epub 2011 Feb 15.
- Background: PubMed 19945795McCracken LM, Velleman SC. Psychological flexibility in adults with chronic pain: a study of acceptance, mindfulness, and values-based action in primary care. Pain. 2010 Jan;148(1):141-147. doi: 10.1016/j.pain.2009.10.034. Epub 2009 Nov 28.
- Background: PubMed 18377140McCracken LM, Vowles KE. A prospective analysis of acceptance of pain and values-based action in patients with chronic pain. Health Psychol. 2008 Mar;27(2):215-20. doi: 10.1037/0278-6133.27.2.215.
- Background: PubMed 22088603Patton CM, Hung M, Lawrence BD, Patel AA, Woodbury AM, Brodke DS, Daubs MD. Psychological distress in a Department of Veterans Affairs spine patient population. Spine J. 2012 Sep;12(9):798-803. doi: 10.1016/j.spinee.2011.10.008. Epub 2011 Nov 16.
- Background: PubMed 19818040Otis JD, Keane TM, Kerns RD, Monson C, Scioli E. The development of an integrated treatment for veterans with comorbid chronic pain and posttraumatic stress disorder. Pain Med. 2009 Oct;10(7):1300-11. doi: 10.1111/j.1526-4637.2009.00715.x.
- Background: PubMed 15080222Kerns RD, Otis J, Rosenberg R, Reid MC. Veterans' reports of pain and associations with ratings of health, health-risk behaviors, affective distress, and use of the healthcare system. J Rehabil Res Dev. 2003 Sep-Oct;40(5):371-9. doi: 10.1682/jrrd.2003.09.0371.
- Background: PubMed 22840570Rakel BA, Blodgett NP, Zimmerman BM, Logsden-Sackett N, Clark C, Noiseux N, Callaghan J, Herr K, Geasland K, Yang X, Sluka KA. Predictors of postoperative movement and resting pain following total knee replacement. Pain. 2012 Nov;153(11):2192-2203. doi: 10.1016/j.pain.2012.06.021. Epub 2012 Jul 25.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Barbara Rakel, PhD principal investigator
University of Iowa
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) in people with Persistent Post-surgical Pain and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, run by Barbara A Rakel at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 4 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 1 Aug 2019. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 1 Aug 2019). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Percent of Veterans Willing and Able to Receive the ACT Intervention. (time frame: Enrollment to 3 months post surgery). The study lists 5 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT02437188, which also lists 15 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 1 Aug 2019.