Positive Psychology Interventions in Individuals With Chronic Pain and Spinal Cord Injury
Condition: Chronic Pain; Spinal Cord Injury
MeSH terms: Spinal Cord Injuries; Chronic Pain; Wounds and Injuries
Study type: Interventional
Phase: Phase 2

Summary: 
      Background:

      Chronic pain is one of the most burdensome potential consequences of a physical disability,
      such as spinal cord injury (SCI). Estimates of the incidence of chronic pain in SCI range
      between 65 - 80%. A recent pilot-study of a computer-based tailored positive psychology
      intervention showed a significant reduction in pain intensity, pain interference, pain
      catastrophizing and depression and an enhancement of subjective well-being and control over
      pain in persons with chronic pain secondary to a physical disability.

      Study Objective:

      Objective 1: To determine the efficacy of a tailored positive psychology intervention (T3P)
      in a community-based, single-blind, randomized, controlled, parallel group trial on
      subjective well-being and pain in individuals with chronic pain secondary to SCI.

      Hypothesis 1: T3P will result in (1) greater immediate and long-lasting increase in
      subjective well-being, and perceived control over pain and (2) greater immediate and
      long-lasting decrease in depression, pain intensity, pain interference and catastrophizing,
      relative to an active control treatment.

      Specific aim 1: To increase the understanding of the mechanisms underlying T3P by determining
      potential mediation effects.

      Hypothesis 2: (1) Pain catastrophizing and pain control mediate the effect of T3P on pain
      intensity, and (2) positive and negative affect mediate the effect of T3P on life
      satisfaction and depression.

      Objective 2: To identify for whom T3P is most effective by exploring potential moderator
      effects.

      Study Design:

      The proposed study is a single-blind, randomized, controlled trial with a parallel group
      design to determine the effects and mechanisms of T3P in a Swiss community sample of persons
      with chronic pain secondary to SCI.
    


Intervention name(s): Positive Psychology intervention; Positive Psychology intervention (Control exercise)
Intervention type(s): Behavioral; Behavioral
Intervention description(s): Intervention group: Participants are instructed to practice 4 out of 10 differentPositive Psychology Exercises (Gratitude, Optimism, Act of Kindness, Social Relations, Forgiveness, Flow, Savoring, Goals, Spirituality, Taking Care of the Body) for at least 15 minutes, at least one day every week including on "bad" days (defined as days with higher than average levels of pain intensity or feeling "down in the dumps") for 8 weeks.; Control group: Control Exercise (Attention Training): Participants assigned to the control group are instructed to be more attentive to their surroundings and write about three specific events or activities from the past 7 days for at least 15 minutes once a week for 8 weeks. This condition is designed to control for the effects of time and participation in an intervention activity.
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single (Participant)
Primary purpose: Treatment