Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to manage pain and opioid use after major surgery: Preliminary outcomes from the Toronto General Hospital Transitional Pain Service.

: Chronic postsurgical pain (CPSP) and associated long-term opioid use are major public health concerns. : The Toronto General Hospital Transitional Pain Service (TPS) is a multidisciplinary, hospital-integrated program developed to prevent and manage CPSP and support opioid tapering. This clinical practice-based study reports on preliminary outcomes of the TPS psychology program, which provides acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) to patients at risk for CPSP and persistent opioid use.

Chronic postsurgical pain and persistent opioid use following surgery: the need for a transitional pain service.

Aim: To identify the 3-month incidence of chronic postsurgical pain and long-term opioid use in patients at the Toronto General Hospital.

Methods: 200 consecutive patients presenting for elective major surgery completed standardized questionnaires by telephone at 3 months after surgery.

Results: 51 patients reported a preoperative chronic pain condition, with 12 taking opioids preoperatively.