Effectiveness of group-based acceptance and commitment therapy on the difficulty emotional regulation and distress tolerance patients with essential hypertension

Pain Appraisals in Patients with Physical Injury: Assessing the Role of Distress Tolerance in the Relationship between Depression and Pain Catastrophizing

Pain is a complex construct contributing to significant impairment, particularly among physically injured patients seeking treatment in trauma and orthopedic surgery settings in which social workers are an integral component of care. The biopsychosocial theory, fear-avoidance, and cognitive mediation models of pain suggest that psychological factors (for example, depression) affect one's ability to tolerate distress, leading to negative pain appraisals, such as catastrophizing. This study examined whether distress tolerance serves as a mechanism by which depression is associated with pain catastrophizing. We administered a health survey to outpatient trauma and orthopedic surgery clinic patients who were using opioid medications; 84 patients were included in the final analysis; 39.3 percent screened positive for depression. A multilevel mediation model using structural equation modeling revealed a significant direct effect from depression to pain catastrophizing (ß = .31, z = 3.96, p < .001) and a significant indirect effect by distress tolerance (Δß = .27, z = 3.84, p < .001). These results, which suggest that distress tolerance partially mediated the path from depression to pain catastrophizing, can inform social workers and other members of the multidisciplinary team about both the critical role of psychosocial factors after injury and interventions to improve postinjury recovery.

Effectiveness of a brief intervention aimed at increasing distress tolerance for individuals in crisis or at risk of self-harm

OBJECTIVE

This study evaluated a brief psychological intervention aimed at improving distress tolerance and decreasing future admissions for individuals presenting to a mental health service in the context of crisis or self-harm.

METHODS

Eighty-five participants completed The Crisis Intervention Package at the point of contact with the mental health service. The outcome of the intervention was evaluated through pre- and post-scores on the Distress Tolerance Scale and future hospital admissions.

RESULTS

Participants showed a significant improvement in Distress Tolerance Scale scores (P < 0.001) indicating an increase in ability to tolerate distressing emotions. Additionally, there was a significant decrease in hospital admissions 6 months pre-test to 6 months post-test.

CONCLUSIONS

The results demonstrate the potential effectiveness of structured, brief interventions aimed at increasing distress tolerance and self-management skills for individuals presenting to a mental health service in crisis.