Comparison of the Effectiveness of Hypnotherapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy on Pain Intensity in Patients with Fibromyalgia in Tehran

Abstract

Objective: The present study aimed to compare the effectiveness of hypnotherapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) on pain intensity in patients with fibromyalgia in Tehran.
Methodology: This semi-experimental study used a pretest–posttest design with a control group and a three-month follow-up. The sample consisted of 45 patients with fibromyalgia, conveniently selected from treatment centers in Tehran and randomly assigned into three groups of fifteen (ACT, hypnotherapy, and control). ACT was delivered in eight sessions, and hypnotherapy in ten sessions, while the control group received standard pharmacological treatment only. Data were collected through the McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ) at three time points and analyzed using MANCOVA and Bonferroni post hoc tests.
Findings: MANCOVA results showed significant differences among the groups in all pain dimensions—including sensory, affective, evaluative, and miscellaneous pain—at both posttest and follow-up phases (p<0.01). Bonferroni post hoc analysis revealed that at follow-up, the ACT group showed significantly greater reductions in pain dimensions compared to the hypnotherapy group (p<0.01), indicating more stable and effective therapeutic outcomes for ACT.
Conclusion: Both hypnotherapy and ACT were effective in reducing pain intensity in patients with fibromyalgia; however, ACT demonstrated greater durability and superiority at follow-up, suggesting it may be considered a first-line psychological intervention in this population.