Acceptance and Commitment Therapy as a Treatment for Anxiety and Depression: A Review

Michael P Twohig; Michael E Levin

doi:10.1016/j.psc.2017.08.009

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy as a Treatment for Anxiety and Depression: A Review

Psychiatr Clin North Am. 2017 Dec;40(4):751-770. doi: 10.1016/j.psc.2017.08.009.

Authors

Michael P Twohig¹, Michael E Levin²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Psychology, Utah State University, 2810 Old Main, Logan, UT 84322, USA. Electronic address: michael.twohig@usu.edu.
² Department of Psychology, Utah State University, 2810 Old Main, Logan, UT 84322, USA.

PMID: 29080598
DOI: 10.1016/j.psc.2017.08.009

Abstract

Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is a modern form of cognitive behavioral therapy based on a distinct philosophy and basic science of cognition. This article reviews the core features of ACT's theoretic model of psychopathology and treatment and its therapeutic approach. It provides a systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating ACT for depression and anxiety disorders. Summarizing 36 RCTs, ACT appears to be more efficacious than waitlist conditions and treatment-as-usual, with largely equivalent effects relative to traditional cognitive behavioral therapy. Evidence indicates that ACT treatment outcomes are mediated through increases in psychological flexibility, its theorized process of change.

Keywords: ACT; Acceptance and commitment therapy; Anxiety; Depression; Psychological flexibility.

Published by Elsevier Inc.

Publication types

Review
Systematic Review

MeSH terms

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy / methods*
Anxiety Disorders / therapy*
Depressive Disorder / therapy*
Humans