Acceptance and Commitment Therapy With and Without Enhanced Mindfulness Training for Chronic Pain (MUST)

June 18, 2025 updated by: St. Olavs Hospital

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy With and Without Enhanced Mindfulness Training for Chronic Pain: A Randomized Controlled Efficacy and Mediator Study

As non-pharmacological alternatives, psychosocial treatments have been recommended for chronic pain management. One such treatment is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). ACT is a cognitive behavior therapy based on Relational Frame Theory, a comprehensive theory about language and cognition. This treatment intends to help patients identify values ("what is truly meaningful to them") and to set goals and take action according to their values. ACT has research support in the treatment of several mental health problems. Moreover patients are taught mindfulness skills to increase acceptance of pain, thoughts and feelings so that these will have less impact on functioning and action. Among patients with chronic pain, several small clinical trials have shown that ACT is more effective than other treatments in terms of increasing function and improving mental health. ACT in combination with mindfulness training has not been tested so far. Further methodologically robust trials are required. This study will therefore examine whether ACT is more effective for chronic pain than an education program, and whether adding daily mindfulness training will improve the outcome, in a large sample of patients from four multidisciplinary pain centers.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
667

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Locations

  • Norway
      • Bergen, Norway
        • Haukeland Universitetssykehus
      • Oslo, Norway
        • Oslo Universitetssykehus
      • Tromsø, Norway
        • Norges arktiske universitet
      • Trondheim, Norway
        • St Olavs Hospital

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • referred to one of the pain clinics in Oslo (200), Trondheim (200), Bergen (100) or Tromsø (100)
  • primary diagnosis of chronic pain lasting for at least 6 months

Exclusion Criteria:

  • severe somatic disease
  • severe mental disorder (ongoing mania, psychosis, suicidal ideation, substance abuse/addiction
  • not able to communicate in Norwegian
  • needing 24-hour personal assistance

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: ACT with mindfulness
4-hour weekly session of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) with mindfulness exercises during 8 weeks in groups of 8
Behavioral: ACT
Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) sessions, lead by 2 qualified therapists, using a manual based on Steven Hayes et al 1999 that was adapted to group therapy and includes all the dynamic processes of ACT.
Behavioral: mindfulness exercises and audio recordings
mindfulness exercises introduced in the ACT sessions. In addition daily home meditation exercises based on the program developed by Kabat-Zinn 2005 and with help of audio recordings.
Experimental: ACT without mindfulness
4-hour weekly acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) without mindfulness exercises during 8 weeks in groups of 8
Behavioral: ACT
Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) sessions, lead by 2 qualified therapists, using a manual based on Steven Hayes et al 1999 that was adapted to group therapy and includes all the dynamic processes of ACT.
Active Comparator: Education program
Self-management education program during 8 weeks in groups of 8.
Behavioral: Education program

Self-management education program. Information given by a qualified health professional on pain and symptom management, stress, sleep, eating habits, mental health problems. Group discussions about thoughts and experiences.

communication skills and physical activity

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
pain intensity measured by the Norwegian Brief Pain Inventory (BPI)
Time Frame: 44 weeks after end of treatment
the Brief Pain Inventory includes four 0-10 numerical rating scales: for 'pain now', and for 'least pain', 'worst pain', and 'average pain' during the last 24 hours, with 0 = no pain to 10 = pain as bad as you can imagine. A pain severity index is calculated by adding the scores on the pain severity items
44 weeks after end of treatment

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
pain intensity measured by the Norwegian Brief Pain Inventory (BPI)
Time Frame: 8 weeks after end of treatment
the Brief Pain Inventory includes four 0-10 numerical rating scales: for 'pain now', and for 'least pain', 'worst pain', and 'average pain' during the last 24 hours, with 0 = no pain to 10 = pain as bad as you can imagine. A pain severity index is calculated by adding the scores on the pain severity items
8 weeks after end of treatment
pain intensity measured by the Norwegian Brief Pain Inventory (BPI)
Time Frame: 24 weeks after end of treatment
the Brief Pain Inventory includes four 0-10 numerical rating scales: for 'pain now', and for 'least pain', 'worst pain', and 'average pain' during the last 24 hours, with 0 = no pain to 10 = pain as bad as you can imagine. A pain severity index is calculated by adding the scores on the pain severity items
24 weeks after end of treatment
pain intensity measured by the Norwegian Brief Pain Inventory (BPI)
Time Frame: 3 years after end of treatment
the Brief Pain Inventory includes four 0-10 numerical rating scales: for 'pain now', and for 'least pain', 'worst pain', and 'average pain' during the last 24 hours, with 0 = no pain to 10 = pain as bad as you can imagine. A pain severity index is calculated by adding the scores on the pain severity items
3 years after end of treatment
physical function
Time Frame: 8 weeks after end of treatment
according to the SF-36 Health Survey
8 weeks after end of treatment
physical function
Time Frame: 24 weeks after end of treatment
according to the SF-36 Health Survey
24 weeks after end of treatment
physical function
Time Frame: 44 weeks after end of treatment
according to the SF-36 Health Survey
44 weeks after end of treatment
physical function
Time Frame: 3 years after end of treatment
according to the SF-36 Health Survey
3 years after end of treatment
mental health
Time Frame: 8 weeks after end of treatment
according to the SF-36 Health Survey
8 weeks after end of treatment
mental health
Time Frame: 24 weeks after end of treatment
according to the SF-36 Health Survey
24 weeks after end of treatment
mental health
Time Frame: 44 weeks after end of treatment
according to the SF-36 Health Survey
44 weeks after end of treatment
mental health
Time Frame: 3 years after end of treatment
according to the SF-36 Health Survey
3 years after end of treatment

Other Outcome Measures

Other Outcome Measures

For clinical trials, a planned measurement described in the protocol that is used to determine the effect of an intervention/treatment on participants. For observational studies, a measurement or observation that is used to describe patterns of diseases or traits, or associations with exposures, risk factors, or treatment. Types of outcome measures include primary outcome measure and secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
attentional functioning
Time Frame: 8 weeks after end of treatment
assessed by the Attention Network Test (Fan et al 2002) specifically designed to measure alerting, orienting and executive attention within a single testing session, which can be reported from the patients computer and lasts about 15 min
8 weeks after end of treatment
attentional functioning
Time Frame: 24 weeks after end of treatment
assessed by the Attention Network Test (Fan et al 2002) specifically designed to measure alerting, orienting and executive attention within a single testing session, which can be reported from the patients computer and lasts about 15 min
24 weeks after end of treatment
attentional functioning
Time Frame: 44 weeks after end of treatment
assessed by the Attention Network Test (Fan et al 2002) specifically designed to measure alerting, orienting and executive attention within a single testing session, which can be reported from the patients computer and lasts about 15 min
44 weeks after end of treatment

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
St. Olavs Hospital

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
Oslo University Hospital
University Hospital of North Norway
Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Haukeland University Hospital

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Tormod Landmark, phd, St. Olavs Hospital

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
August 20, 2020

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
August 30, 2024

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
August 30, 2024

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
August 13, 2019

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
August 13, 2019

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
August 15, 2019

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimated)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
June 25, 2025

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
June 18, 2025

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
June 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 2019/503

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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