How Can We Implement Single-Case Experimental Designs in Group Therapy and Using Digital Technologies: A Study with Fibromyalgia Patients

Abstract

Single case designs (SCDs) have been argued to reduce or eliminate some of the problems of large-scale, randomized controlled trials, including the focus on average scores, the need for control groups, the difficulties in modifying treatment protocols after study onset, and the use of a reduced number of assessment points. To date, however, SCDs have been rare due to methodological difficulties (i.e., need for repeated assessment), which is now feasible with technology. It is also rare to find SCDs in group therapy research, again due to methodological and conceptual barriers. Our aim was to set up a SCD within the context of a group delivery psychological intervention for fibromyalgia patients (FM). An app developed by our team, Pain Monitor, was used for ecological momentary assessment. The treatment protocol integrates CBT techniques with positive psychology, pain acceptance, and mindfulness exercises. In this study, we intend to discuss how SCDs can be construed in the context of group therapy. We will present benefits and shortcomings of this methodology in this context and finally we will expose a real case with FM patients from our on laboratory which is currently running. In this investigation, a multiple baseline design was selected, but examples using other designs, such as ABAB (A = baseline; B = treatment), changing criterion, or alternating treatments, will be discussed with the same sample to provide an overview of different possibilities to address group treatment research using SCDs.