Effectiveness of an online self-help intervention for chronic pain based on Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT) and mindfulness.

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The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the web-based intervention 'Leven met Pijn' in comparison to a minimal intervention condition and a waiting list control condition in terms of a decrease in pain interference in daily life. The secondary objective of this study is to evaluate ¡®Leven met Pijn¡¯ in terms of a decrease in pain disability and pain intensity, and an increase in mental health, psychological flexibility, mindfulness and values-based living. Another objective of the study is to evaluate the mediating effects of psychological inflexibility and mindfulness in the effects described in the primary objective.

Six measurement moments:
1. Baseline (prior to start intervention);
2. During intervention; 4 weeks after start - short questionnaire);
3. During intervention; 8 weeks after start - short questionnaire);
4. Directly after end intervention (12 weeks after baseline);
5. 3-month follow-up;
6. 9-month follow-up (only for intervention conditions, not waiting list).

1. Experimental condition: Web-based intervention ‘Leven met Pijn’, based on Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT) and mindfulness.The objective of ACT is enhancing psychological flexibility in favour of a meaningful life. Psychological flexibility is the ability to accept negative sensations, emotions and thoughts, to stay in contact with the present moment and to be able to act in line with one’s life values;
2. First control condition, minimal intervention group: Web-based intervention based on Expressive Writing (Pennebaker, 1997). The general assignment for all participants is to write on a daily or regular basis about negative emotions experienced during the day. Writing will take approximately 15-30 minutes;
3. Second control condition, waiting list group: Participants will be placed on a waiting list.

Time period of the intervention will be 12 weeks.