An acceptance-oriented cognitive-behavioral therapy in multimodal rehabilitation: A pre-post test evaluation in highly distressed patients with rheumatic diseases

J.E. Vriezekolk*, A.M.M. Eijsbouts, W.G.J.M. van Lankveld, H. Beenackers, R. Geenen, C.H.M. van den Ende

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Objective: To examine the potential effectiveness of a multimodal rehabilitation program including an acceptance-oriented cognitive-behavioral therapy for highly distressed patients with rheumatic diseases. Methods: An observational study employing a one-group pre-post test design (. N=. 25). The primary outcome was psychological distress. Secondary outcomes were quality of life, illness acceptance, and coping flexibility. Group pre-to-post and pre-to-12 months follow-up treatment changes were evaluated by paired-samples t-tests and Cohen's effect sizes (. d). Individual changes were evaluated by the reliable change index (RCI) and clinically significant change (CSC) parameters. Results: Significant effects were found post-treatment and maintained at 12 months in psychological distress (. d>. 0.80), illness acceptance (. d=. 1.48) and the SF-36 subscales role physical, vitality, and mental health (. d≥. 0.65). No significant effects were found for coping flexibility and the SF-36 subscales physical functioning, bodily pain, social functioning, and role emotional. Both a reliable (RCI) and clinically significant (CSC) improvement was observed for almost half of the highly distressed patients. Conclusion: The patients enrolled in the multimodal rehabilitation program showed improved psychological health status from pre to post-treatment. Practice implications: A randomized clinical trial is needed to confirm or refute the added value of an acceptance-oriented cognitive-behavioral therapy for highly distressed patients in rehabilitation.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)357-363
Number of pages7
JournalPatient Education and Counseling
Volume91
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jun 2013

Keywords

  • Acceptance
  • Anxiety
  • Cognitive-behavioral therapy
  • Coping flexibility
  • Depression
  • Quality of life
  • Rehabilitation
  • Rheumatic diseases

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