Diabetes mellitus (DM) is highly prevalent, and a significant public health problem. Approximately 25-30% of all individuals with DM develop painful diabetic neuropathy (PDN). PDN is considered a complex, multi-dimensional condition, possibly affecting the physical and mental health of the individual. PDN is usually described as a sense of burning, stabbing, aching and/or pricking mainly affecting areas like toes, legs, and feet and physically interfering with mobility, sleep, mood, and overall quality of life. This condition represents both a significant problem in its own right and a useful condition in which to test treatments that may offer wider benefits for neuropathic pain conditions in general. A relatively new and promising approach to chronic pain, within the wider range of cognitive and behavioural approaches, is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). ACT is a form of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) that focuses specifically on increasing psychological flexibility. Psychological flexibility is the capacity to change or continue with a behaviour, depending on which is more effective, according to one's goals and what the current situation affords. Psychological flexibility in turn includes processes of acceptance, values-based action, and other processes related to mindfulness. There are no published studies of ACT for individuals with PDN, and the limited available evidence indicates that a CBT-based intervention like ACT has the potential to reduce pain in people with PDN. People with PDN have clear treatment needs. While ACT may help them, little is known directly about the relevance of different components of ACT for this condition or about how to customise it for them. The proposed research aims to conduct a small feasibility trial which will pilot test a psychological treatment for PDN and assess the feasibility, acceptability and effectiveness of such a treatment.
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Committed Action Questionnaire (CAQ-8)
Timeframe: 8 weeks