The self in pain

Article

Yu, L. and McCracken, L. 2024. The self in pain. Current Opinion in Psychology. 62. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2024.101972
TypeArticle
TitleThe self in pain
AuthorsYu, L. and McCracken, L.
Abstract

Chronic pain can be highly distressing, disabling and complex. The experience of living with chronic pain often leads to a fundamental struggle with one’s sense of self and identity. In this article, we briefly review the wide range of conceptualisations of self in pain research. We then introduce a contextual behavioural conceptualisation of self, a more recent approach to self, and discuss its application and relevant evidence in chronic pain. We recommend that it is time to organize and integrate perspectives on self in relation to chronic pain so that research can proceed with less potential confusion or contradiction, and the contextual behaviour science approach can potentially provide a basis for this.

Keywordschronic pain; sense of self; self-as-context; psychological flexibility; Contextual Behavioural Science
Sustainable Development Goals3 Good health and well-being
Middlesex University ThemeHealth & Wellbeing
PublisherElsevier
JournalCurrent Opinion in Psychology
ISSN2352-250X
Electronic2352-2518
Publication dates
Online09 Dec 2024
PrintApr 2025
Publication process dates
Submitted13 Nov 2024
Accepted05 Dec 2024
Deposited13 Dec 2024
Output statusPublished
Publisher's version
License
File Access Level
Open
Copyright Statement

2352-250X/© 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2024.101972
Permalink -

https://repository.mdx.ac.uk/item/1xqx8q

Log in to edit

Download files

Publisher's version
1-s2.0-S2352250X24001854-main.pdf
License: CC BY 4.0
File access level: Open

  • 19
    total views
  • 3
    total downloads
  • 6
    views this month
  • 1
    downloads this month

Export as

Related outputs

Initial validation of the Self Experiences Questionnaire-2 in people with chronic pain
Yu, L., Kioskli, K. and McCracken, L. 2024. Initial validation of the Self Experiences Questionnaire-2 in people with chronic pain. Cognitive Therapy and Research. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10608-024-10500-1
COVID-19 and mental health in the UK: depression, anxiety and insomnia and their associations with persistent physical symptoms and risk and vulnerability factors
Yu, L. and McCracken, L.M. 2024. COVID-19 and mental health in the UK: depression, anxiety and insomnia and their associations with persistent physical symptoms and risk and vulnerability factors. British Journal of Clinical Psychology. 63 (1), pp. 92-104. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjc.12446
New generation psychological treatments in chronic pain
McCracken, L., Yu, L. and Vowles, K. 2022. New generation psychological treatments in chronic pain. British Medical Journal. 376. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj-2021-057212
Predictors of outcomes following interdisciplinary acceptance and commitment therapy for chronic pain: profiling psychological flexibility
Yu, L., McCracken, L. and Scott, W. 2022. Predictors of outcomes following interdisciplinary acceptance and commitment therapy for chronic pain: profiling psychological flexibility. European Journal of Pain. 26 (7), pp. 1448-1459. https://doi.org/10.1002/ejp.1972
Measuring 'self': preliminary validation of a short form of the self experiences questionnaire in people with chronic pain
Yu, L., Scott, W., Goodman, R., Driscoll, L. and McCracken, L. 2021. Measuring 'self': preliminary validation of a short form of the self experiences questionnaire in people with chronic pain. British Journal of Pain. 15 (4), pp. 474-485. https://doi.org/10.1177/2049463721994863
The psychological functioning in the COVID-19 pandemic and its association with psychological flexibility and broader functioning in people with chronic pain
Yu, L., Kioskli, K. and McCracken, L. 2021. The psychological functioning in the COVID-19 pandemic and its association with psychological flexibility and broader functioning in people with chronic pain. The Journal of Pain. 22 (8), pp. 926-939. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpain.2021.02.011
Preliminary investigation of the associations between psychological flexibility, symptoms, and daily functioning in people with chronic abdominal pain
Yu, L., Inspector, Y. and McCracken, L. 2021. Preliminary investigation of the associations between psychological flexibility, symptoms, and daily functioning in people with chronic abdominal pain. British Journal of Pain. 15 (2), pp. 175-186. https://doi.org/10.1177/2049463720926559
Change in fatigue in acceptance and commitment therapy‐based treatment for chronic pain and its association with enhanced psychological flexibility
Yu, L., Scott, W. and McCracken, L. 2020. Change in fatigue in acceptance and commitment therapy‐based treatment for chronic pain and its association with enhanced psychological flexibility. European Journal of Pain. 24 (1), pp. 234-247. https://doi.org/10.1002/ejp.1480
Measuring stigma in chronic pain: preliminary investigation of instrument psychometrics, correlates, and magnitude of change in a prospective cohort attending interdisciplinary treatment
Scott, W., Yu, L., Patel, S. and McCracken, L. 2019. Measuring stigma in chronic pain: preliminary investigation of instrument psychometrics, correlates, and magnitude of change in a prospective cohort attending interdisciplinary treatment. The Journal of Pain. 20 (10), pp. 1164-1175. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpain.2019.03.011
Treatment of chronic pain for adults 65 and over: analyses of outcomes and changes in psychological flexibility following interdisciplinary acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)
Scott, W., Daly, A., Yu, L. and McCracken, L. 2017. Treatment of chronic pain for adults 65 and over: analyses of outcomes and changes in psychological flexibility following interdisciplinary acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). Pain Medicine. 18 (2), pp. 252-264. https://doi.org/10.1093/pm/pnw073
Change in "Self-as-Context" ("Perspective-taking") occurs in acceptance and commitment therapy for people with chronic pain and is associated with improved functioning
Yu, L., Norton, S. and McCracken, L. 2017. Change in "Self-as-Context" ("Perspective-taking") occurs in acceptance and commitment therapy for people with chronic pain and is associated with improved functioning. The Journal of Pain. 18 (6), pp. 664-672. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpain.2017.01.005
Preliminary investigation of self-as-context in people with fibromyalgia
Yu, L., Norton, S., Almarzooqi, S. and McCracken, L. 2017. Preliminary investigation of self-as-context in people with fibromyalgia. British Journal of Pain. 11 (3), pp. 134-143. https://doi.org/10.1177/2049463717708962
Model and processes of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for chronic pain including a closer look at the self
Yu, L. and McCracken, L. 2016. Model and processes of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for chronic pain including a closer look at the self. Current Pain and Headache Reports. 20 (2). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11916-016-0541-4