Pain medicine : the official journal of the American Academy of Pain Medicine
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Numerous studies support the effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) for chronic pain, yet little research has been conducted about its underlying mechanisms of change, especially regarding patients with comorbid mental disorders. The present investigation addressed this issue by examining associations of processes targeted by ACT (pain acceptance, mindfulness, psychological flexibility) and clinical outcomes (pain intensity, somatic symptoms, physical health, mental health, depression, general anxiety). ⋯ The present investigation suggests that changes in pain acceptance, mindfulness, and psychological flexibility are meaningfully associated with changes in clinical outcomes. It provides evidence on particular process-outcome associations that had not been investigated in this way before. The focus on comorbid mental disorders informs clinicians about a population of chronic pain patients who often have a severe course of illness and have seldom been studied.
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Observational Study
Do acupuncture services reduce subsequent utilization of opioids and surgical interventions compared to noninvasive therapies among patients with pain conditions?
To compare prescribed opioid use and invasive surgical interventions between patients using acupuncture and those using non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)/physical therapy (PT). ⋯ Acupuncture showed a modest effect in reducing opioid use and ED visits. More research on acupuncture's place in emergency care, pain relief, and comparison to other types of non-opioid treatment is needed.