Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS) is a disease of unknown etiology that affects up to 3 million Canadians, or 2-10% of the general population (Carruthers & van de Sande, 2005). Acceptance-based behavioural therapy (ABBT) is a relatively recent approach to treating human suffering in general and chronic pain in particular (Hayes, Strosahl, & Wilson, 1999; McCracken, 2005). ABBT treatments have been shown to effectively treat pain, pain-related anxiety, depression, and other behavioural measures of disability (McCracken, 2005; McCracken, Vowles, Gregg, & Almada, 2010; Pear & Simister, 2016, p. 160). In-person treatments can place significant burden on patients and the overall health-care system. Outcomes for online programs can be similar to those for in-person treatment while allowing for increased flexibility for both patients and professionals (Ritterband & Tate, 2009; Strecher, 2007). The current study extended a pilot study (Shay, Tkachuk, Simister, Bailly, & Skrabek, 2011), modifying the previous treatment to a 6 unit program that could be delivered online. Sixty-one participants completed the study, being randomly assigned to an online ABBT plus treatment-as-usual (online ABBT + TAU) group or a treatment-as-usual alone (TAU) group. All participants completed a series of self-report measures at baseline, at post-treatment, and at a 3-month follow-up. Linear mixed modelling supported significant differences between the groups in favour of the ABBT + TAU treatment group on the primary outcome measure (Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire-Revised (FIQ-R); F (2, 52.82) = 20.10, p < .0001) following treatment. The online ABBT + TAU group also had significantly greater improvements in depression, pain, acceptance, perceived helplessness, and kinesiophobia. Increased acceptance mediated the effects of treatment on improvements in FMS quality of life and FMS impact, while reduced helplessness mediated the effects of treatment on improvements in level of reported pain. Comments and subjective ratings of improvement were consistent with the quantitative results. Participants rated mindfulness (contact with present moment experience) as the most useful treatment unit. / February 2016

Mindfulness is a way of managing chronic pain and its consequences as it fosters anaccepting approach to pain that can be beneficial in several aspects of life affected bypain. This study sought to examine whether an online mindfulness training programcould reduce the experience of pain, increase acceptance of pain, and increase qualityof life in a group of individuals suffering from chronic pain. The study was arandomized controlled trial with a partly active control group. Initially 52 participantswere randomized to the intervention group and 55 to the control group. The drop outrates were high, 21 participants from the intervention group and 40 participants fromthe control group completed post measurement. Increased levels of mindfulness,reduced pain related distress, and heightened pain acceptance, as well as increasedquality of life, was observed in the intervention group. A strong tendency towards aperceived reduction of pain intensity was also evident in the intervention group. Asthe mindfulness program had positive effects on the overall experience of pain it mayserve as a cost‐effective and useful method of dealing with chronic pain. / Mindfulness är ett sätt att hantera kronisk smärta och dess konsekvenser då det lär uten accepterande inställning till smärta som kan vara till hjälp i flera aspekter av livetpåverkade av smärta. Denna studie undersökte huruvida ett online‐baseratmindfulnessprogram kunde minska upplevelsen av smärta, öka acceptans av smärtaoch öka livskvaliteten hos en grupp individer med kronisk smärta. Studien varrandomiserad och kontrollerad med en delvis aktiv kontrollgrupp. Initialtrandomiserades 52 deltagare till experimentgruppen och 55 deltagare tillkontrollgruppen. Bortfallet var högt, 21 deltagare från experimentgruppen och 40deltagare från kontrollgruppen fullgjorde eftermätningarna. Ökade nivåer avmindfulness, reducerat smärtrelaterat lidande, ökad acceptans av smärta såväl somökad livskvalitet återfanns i experimentgruppen. En stark tendens till minskadupplevd smärtintensitet var också tydlig hos experimentgruppen. Dåmindfulnessprogrammet hade positiva effekter på den övergripande upplevelsen avsmärta kan det fungera som en kostnadseffektiv och användbar metod att hanterakronisk smärta.