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The empirically supported status of acceptance and commitment therapy : An update
Smout, Matthew Hayes, Louise Atkins, Paul Klausen, Jessica Duguid, James
Smout, Matthew
Hayes, Louise
Atkins, Paul
Klausen, Jessica
Duguid, James
Abstract
Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is a transdiagnostic cognitive behavioural therapy that predominantly teaches clients acceptance and mindfulness skills, as well as values clarification and enactment skills. Australian treatment guideline providers have been cautious in recognising ACT as empirically supported. This article reviews evidence from randomised controlled trials published since Öst's review, and examines the extent to which the methodology of ACT research has improved since. Since 2008, ACT research has improved its use of adherence and competence monitoring. Good-quality studies could be considered to offer National Health and Medical Research Council Level II evidence for chronic pain, obsessive–compulsive disorder, and a subset of other anxiety disorders (panic disorder, social phobia, and generalised anxiety disorder). The majority of studies demonstrated that ACT significantly improved primary outcomes but used comparison conditions that did not rule out therapy-unspecific factors, including use of concurrent treatments, as explanations for the improvements. Recommendations for future ACT research are presented.
Keywords
Date
2012
Type
Journal article
Journal
Clinical Psychologist
Book
Volume
16
Issue
3
Page Range
97-109
Article Number
ACU Department
Relation URI
Source URL
Event URL
Open Access Status
License
File Access
Controlled