Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy on Alexithymia and Pain Self-Efficacy in Individuals with Migraine Headaches
Keywords:
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, alexithymia, pain self-efficacy, migraine headacheAbstract
The present study aimed to determine the effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) on alexithymia and pain self-efficacy in individuals with migraine headaches. This study employed a quasi-experimental design with a pretest-posttest and two-month follow-up along with a control group. The statistical population consisted of individuals with migraine headaches who referred to medical centers, neurology clinics, and psychological service clinics in the city of Tonekabon in 2025. A total of 30 eligible participants were selected through purposive sampling and randomly assigned to either the experimental or control group, with 15 participants in each group. The experimental group received Acceptance and Commitment Therapy during ten 90-minute sessions, whereas the control group received no intervention during this period. Data were collected using the Toronto Alexithymia Scale and the Pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaire. Data analysis was conducted using the independent samples t-test, Fisher’s exact test, and two-way repeated measures analysis of variance in SPSS version 26. The findings indicated that the experimental and control groups did not differ significantly in demographic characteristics. Furthermore, the results of the two-way repeated measures analysis of variance demonstrated that the interaction effect of group and time on alexithymia and pain self-efficacy was statistically significant. Mean comparisons revealed that alexithymia scores in the experimental group decreased from pretest to posttest, whereas pain self-efficacy scores increased. These changes remained largely stable during the two-month follow-up phase, while no substantial changes were observed in the control group. Based on the findings, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy can reduce alexithymia and enhance pain self-efficacy in individuals with migraine headaches. Therefore, the application of this approach alongside medical treatments may be beneficial for improving psychological adjustment, increasing pain management capabilities, and reducing emotional difficulties associated with migraine.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Abolfazl Ebrahimi (Author); Seyedeh Marzieh Ahmadialavi; Avishan Aghaeipour (Author)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
