Comparing the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral group therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, and mindfulness-based stress reduction in the treatment of fibromyalgia syndrome

Abstract

Fibromyalgia is a chronic and complex pain disorder that significantly affects the quality of life of patients. Psychological treatments, including cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), have been recognized as the most effective methods in managing the symptoms of this disease. The present study compared the effectiveness of CBT, ACT, and MBSR group therapies to find the most effective psychological treatment.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to compare cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) groups on the impact of the disease in women with fibromyalgia.

Methods: The present study was a quasi-experimental study with a pretest-posttest design and a three-month follow-up period with three experimental groups and one control group. The statistical population studied in this study consisted of women with fibromyalgia syndrome referring to rheumatologists in Shiraz in the summer and fall of 2024. 84 people were selected by an accessible method and randomly assigned to 4 groups of 21 people: cognitive-behavioral group therapy (8 sessions), acceptance and commitment group therapy (8 sessions), mindfulness-based stress reduction group therapy (8 sessions), and a control group. The research tool included the revised Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQR) by Robert Bennett (2009). The research data were analyzed using the analysis of variance method with a mixed design and Bonferroni post hoc test in SPSS-26 software.

Findings: The results showed that the two cognitive-behavioral therapies and acceptance and commitment are more effective in reducing the effects of fibromyalgia syndrome, while mindfulness-based stress reduction, despite reducing the scores on the questionnaire, did not create a significant difference in the scores of fibromyalgia effects.

Conclusion: Based on the results of the study, it is concluded that cognitive behavioral therapy and then acceptance and commitment therapy have the greatest impact on the dimensions of fibromyalgia effects. These interventions can be used in designing comprehensive and psychological treatment programs for patients with fibromyalgia.