Behavior Modification 36(1) 37–48 © The Author(s) 2012 Reprints and permission: http://www. sagepub.com/journalsPermissions.nav DOI: 10.1177/0145445511420281 http://bmo.sagepub.com 420281BMO 36 1 10.1177/0145445511420281 Blacker et al.Behavior Modification XX(X) 1 Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA 2 Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA Corresponding Author: Kara J. Blacker, Temple University, 1701 N. 13th St., Weiss Hall, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA Email: kara.blacker@temple.edu Acceptance- Versus Change-Based Pain Management: The Role of Psychological Acceptance Kara J. Blacker 1 , James D. Herbert 2 , Evan M. Forman 2 , and John Kounios 2 Abstract This study compared two theoretically opposed strategies for acute pain management: an acceptance-based and a change-based approach. These two strategies were compared in a within-subjects design using the cold pressor test as an acute pain induction method. Participants completed a baseline pain tolerance assessment followed by one of the two interventions and another pain tolerance test.The alternate strategy was presented in a separate, but otherwise identical, experimental session. On average, both interventions significantly increased pain tolerance relative to baseline, with no significant difference between the two intervention conditions. Baseline psychological acceptance emerged as a significant moderator of intervention efficacy; indi- viduals with a high level of acceptance benefited significantly more from the acceptance intervention, whereas those with a low level of acceptance ben- efited more from the change-based intervention. Implications for increasing the effectiveness of psychotherapeutic treatments based on individual differ- ences are discussed. Keywords psychological acceptance, pain, distress tolerance, cold pressor test at DREXEL UNIV LIBRARIES on January 24, 2012 bmo.sagepub.com Downloaded from