UT - Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for chronic pain: literature review and information for patients |
Organisation UT (patient information should be useful for patients from Roessingh) |
Location Enschede, the Netherlands |
Period of internship November 2025 to February 2026 |
Description of Assignment |
In this assignment you will investigate the effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for patients with chronic pain. You may choose a specific population, such as fibromyalgia, chronic low back pain, migraine, or arthritis, and explore what the research says about how ACT helps these patients. Your review should focus on outcomes that matter most for quality of life, including pain intensity, physical functioning, sleep, and overall well-being. You are expected to search the literature and rely on systematic reviews and meta-analyses where possible. Summarize the findings in a way that highlights both strengths and limitations of the evidence, and reflect on whether ACT shows consistent benefits across different outcomes. You will also investigate how technology can be used effectively with ACT to support patients: this could be achieved through emerging tools like VR, smartphone (adjunct) interventions, chatbots, etc. The end product will be a patient-friendly infographic or pamphlet. This should explain in simple terms what ACT is, outline the prevalence and burden of the chosen condition, emerging technologies combining ACT for the management of pain, and present treatment outcomes and prognoses in a clear and accessible manner. The design should use straightforward language, supportive visuals, and a style appropriate for patients rather than specialists. |
Information contact person: Jorge Piano Simoes |
