Developing “De-stress pain,” an intervention to reduce chronic pain-related distress: Proof of concept and qualitative assessment of acceptability

Introduction People with persistent musculoskeletal (MSK) pain often experience distress, distinct from depression. Current referral pathways and interventions are suboptimal for this group. We developed and tested the acceptability and proof of concept of De-Stress Pain , an intervention to reduce pain-related distress. Methods Guided by principles from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, behavioural activation, and the Person-Based Approach (PBA) De- Stress Pain provided 4–6 social prescriber sessions over 12 weeks, plus access to a mental wellbeing website promoting engagement in meaningful and pleasurable activities. Acceptability of the intervention and study procedures was assessed qualitatively using semi-structured interviews with participants and social prescribers before and after the intervention programme. Results Sixteen participants were recruited and 11 completed the intervention alongside four social prescribers. Participants described the intervention as acceptable and valued the combination of social prescriber support, accountability, and encouragement to re-engage in meaningful and pleasurable activities. Social prescribers reported that the intervention was acceptable to deliver and aligned with their existing practice, although limited appointment time and participants’ financial constraints could affect engagement. Some participants initially viewed pleasurable activities as indulgent, which acted as a barrier to engagement. Findings also suggested that future iterations may benefit from refining eligibility criteria to better identify individuals experiencing sufficient pain-related distress. Improvements in mood measures and participant reports of increased hope, activity, and wellbeing suggested the intervention showed promise for supporting people with pain-related distress. Conclusions This study demonstrates that De-Stress Pain was acceptable to both participants and social prescribers and feasible to deliver within social prescribing services. The findings identified several factors requiring consideration in future iterations, including participant selection, time constraints, and financial barriers to engagement. De-Stress Pain is, to our knowledge, among the few pain-related interventions specifically designed for delivery by social prescribers within primary care settings.