• Kitty Kioskli, Whitney Scott, Kirsty Winkley, Emma Godfrey, and Lance M McCracken.
• Health Psychology Section, Psychology Department, Institute of Psychiatry Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.
• Pain Med. 2020 Nov 1; 21 (11): 277727882777-2788.

ObjectiveThis study aimed to assess the feasibility of online Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for painful diabetic neuropathy in the United Kingdom and to determine if a larger randomized controlled trial testing treatment efficacy is justified.MethodsParticipants with painful diabetic neuropathy were recruited online and from hospital services. This was a single-arm study in which all participants received online Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Participants completed questionnaires at baseline and three months post-treatment. Primary feasibility outcomes were recruitment, retention, and treatment completion rates. Secondary outcomes were pre- to post-treatment effects on pain outcomes and psychological flexibility.ResultsOf 225 potentially eligible participants, 30 took part in this study. Regarding primary feasibility outcomes, the treatment completion and follow-up questionnaire completion rates were 40% and 100%, respectively. Generally, at baseline those who completed the treatment, compared with those who did not, had better daily functioning and higher psychological flexibility. With respect to secondary outcomes, results from the completers group showed clinically meaningful effects at post-treatment for 100% of participants for pain intensity and pain distress, 66.7% for depressive symptoms, 58.3% for functional impairment, 41.7% for cognitive fusion, 66.7% for committed action, 58.3% for self-as-context, and 41.7% for pain acceptance.ConclusionsThis preliminary trial suggests feasibility of recruitment and follow-up questionnaire completion rates, supporting planning for a larger randomized controlled trial. However, treatment completion rates did not achieve the prespecified feasibility target. Changes to the treatment content and delivery may enhance the feasibility of online Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for people with painful diabetic neuropathy on a larger scale.© The Author(s) 2020. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Academy of Pain Medicine.

11 keywords...

hide…