Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
Also known as: ACT, acceptance commitment therapy
Facts (56)
Sources
A systematic review of cognitive behavioral therapy-based ... frontiersin.org 34 facts
claimIn both Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Behavioral Activation Treatment for Depression (BATD), improvements in pain interference at follow-up were significantly mediated by improvements at post-treatment in psychological flexibility (Sanabria-Mazo et al., 2023).
measurementAcceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) demonstrated significant improvement in psychological flexibility compared to Treatment as Usual (TAU) with a medium effect size (d = 0.52) at post-treatment and a small effect size (d = 0.37) at follow-up.
claimThere were no significant differences between Behavioral Activation Therapy for Depression (BATD) and Treatment as Usual (TAU), or between Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Treatment as Usual (TAU), in the improvement of depressive, anxiety, and stress symptoms.
claimThere were no significant differences in psychological flexibility between Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Behavioral Activation Treatment for Depression (BATD).
claimIncluding remote synchronous video group-based Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) or Behavioral Activation Treatment for Depression (BATD) as adjuncts to Treatment As Usual (TAU) provides clinical utility for improving pain interference and pain catastrophizing in patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP) and comorbid depressive symptoms.
measurementAcceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) showed significant differences in behavioral activation compared to Treatment as Usual (TAU) with a small effect size (d = 0.30) at post-treatment, but not at follow-up.
measurementAcceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) demonstrated significant improvement in pain interference compared to Treatment as Usual (TAU) at post-treatment (effect size d = 0.64) and at follow-up (effect size d = 0.73).
referenceThe systematic review examined the efficacy of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (nine studies), Mindfulness-based Interventions (three studies), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (one study), and Behavioral Activation Therapy for Depression (one study).
procedureThe systematic review search strategy utilized a Boolean search string combining three categories: (1) pain-related terms (e.g., chronic pain, neuropathic pain, fibromyalgia), (2) psychological distress terms (e.g., depression, anxiety, stress, emotional regulation), and (3) intervention terms (e.g., psychotherapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness, acceptance and commitment therapy).
referenceA study by Sanabria-Mazo et al. (2023) conducted a randomized controlled trial (the IMPACT study) evaluating the efficacy of videoconference group Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Behavioral Activation Therapy for Depression (BATD) for patients with chronic low back pain and comorbid depressive symptoms.
referenceHughes et al. (2017) published a review in the Clinical Journal of Pain regarding the use of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) for chronic pain.
claimNo significant differences were found between Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Treatment as Usual (TAU) regarding depressive and anxiety symptoms.
claimNo significant differences were found between Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Treatment as Usual (TAU), between Behavioral Activation Therapy for Depression (BATD) and Treatment as Usual (TAU), or between ACT and BATD regarding pain intensity.
procedureIn the Sanabria-Mazo et al. (2023) study, the ACT and BATD interventions were delivered by trained clinical psychologists in 8 sessions lasting 90 minutes each.
measurementPatients assigned to Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Behavioral Activation Therapy for Depression (BATD) reported a significant reduction in pain catastrophizing compared to Treatment as Usual (TAU) at post-treatment (ACT effect size d = 0.45; BATD effect size d = 0.59) and at follow-up (both effect sizes d = 0.59).
perspectiveMore randomized controlled trials (RCTs) based on Mindfulness-Based Interventions (MBI), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Behavioral Activation Treatment for Depression (BATD) are needed to determine the overall efficacy of these interventions for patients with comorbid chronic pain and psychological distress.
claimMindfulness-based Interventions (MBI), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Behavioral Activation Therapy for Depression (BATD) produce positive effects in patients with chronic pain, according to research by Jorn (2015), Veehof et al. (2016), Hughes et al. (2017), Boersma et al. (2019), Khoo et al. (2019), Gloster et al. (2020), and Pardos-Gascón et al. (2021).
claimThe systematic review organized information from controlled trials according to the type of intervention, specifically Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Mindfulness-Based Interventions (MBI), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Behavioral Activation Treatment for Depression (BATD).
claimResearch interest is increasing in how CBT-based therapies, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Mindfulness-Based Interventions (MBI), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Behavioral Activation Treatment for Depression (BATD), can improve the functional status and quality of life in patients with chronic pain experiencing depressive and/or anxiety symptoms.
measurementAcceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) showed significant improvement in pain acceptance compared to Treatment as Usual (TAU) at post-treatment (effect size d = 0.34) and at follow-up (effect size d = 0.42).
claimThe systematic review synthesized findings by categorizing them into four therapy types: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Mindfulness-Based Interventions (MBI), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Behavioral Activation Treatment for Depression (BATD).
referenceSanabria-Mazo et al. (2023) conducted a randomized controlled trial in Spain involving patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP) and depression, comparing Acceptance and Commitment Therapy plus Treatment as Usual (ACT+TAU), Behavioral Activation Therapy plus Treatment as Usual (BATD+TAU), and Treatment as Usual (TAU) alone.
referenceGloster et al. (2020) published a review of meta-analyses in the Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science examining the empirical status of acceptance and commitment therapy.
referenceTable 4 in the systematic review provides a synthesis of evidence comparing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Mindfulness-Based Interventions (MBI), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), or Behavioral Activation Treatment for Depression (BATD) against Treatment as Usual (TAU).
referenceThe IMPACT study protocol, published by Sanabria-Mazo et al. (2020), outlines a randomized controlled trial to assess the efficacy, cost-utility, and physiological effects of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Behavioral Activation Treatment for Depression (BATD) in patients with chronic low back pain and depression, utilizing mobile-technology-based ecological momentary assessment.
claimNo significant differences were found between Behavioral Activation Therapy for Depression (BATD) and Treatment as Usual (TAU), or between Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and BATD, regarding pain acceptance.
referenceLin et al. (2019) published the protocol for a systematic review and individual participant data meta-analysis regarding the use of acceptance and commitment therapy for chronic pain.
claimThere were no significant differences in behavioral activation between Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Behavioral Activation Treatment for Depression (BATD).
measurementAcceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) showed significant improvement in stress symptoms at post-treatment (effect size d = 0.69) compared to Treatment as Usual (TAU), but this effect was not sustained at follow-up.
measurementAcceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) for stress was evaluated in 1 study, involving 78 participants in the intervention group and 78 in the control group, with 100% of studies showing positive results at post-treatment and 0% at follow-up.
claimNo significant differences in depressive or anxiety symptoms were found in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Behavioral Activation Treatment for Depression (BATD) compared to Treatment As Usual (TAU) at any assessment time points.
measurementThe therapeutic interventions analyzed in the 13 studies included in the systematic review were: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (69%), Mindfulness-Based Interventions (23%), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Behavioral Activation Treatment for Depression (8%).
measurementAcceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) for anxiety was evaluated in 1 study, involving 78 participants in the intervention group and 78 in the control group, with 0% of studies showing positive results at post-treatment or follow-up.
referenceA study by Sanabria-Mazo et al. (2023) evaluated the efficacy of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Behavioral Activation Therapy for Depression (BATD) compared to Treatment as Usual (TAU), using an intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis with pre-, post-, and follow-up assessments, focusing on pain interference as the primary outcome.
Effective Anxiety Management: Evidence-Based Approaches reachlink.com Nov 29, 2025 5 facts
measurementA 2020 meta-analysis reported that Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) showed substantial benefits compared to waitlists, placebos, and other forms of therapy.
claimWhen treating anxiety, Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) aims to help patients recognize and accept aspects of their lives that are beyond their control, which can reduce discomfort, fear, and avoidant behavior.
claimAcceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is based on the principle that attempting to fight or suppress challenging emotions often increases distress rather than alleviating it.
claimAcceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) aims to help patients recognize and accept aspects of their lives that are beyond their control to reduce discomfort, fear, and avoidant behavior.
claimEvidence-based anxiety management utilizes therapeutic approaches such as cognitive behavioral therapy, exposure therapy, and acceptance commitment therapy, delivered by licensed mental health professionals to reduce anxiety symptoms and improve quality of life.
The Montreal model: an integrative biomedical-psychedelic ... frontiersin.org 5 facts
claimIn the Montreal model, as patients with treatment-resistant depression improve, treatment goals evolve from evidence-based lifestyle changes to 'committed action' goals that align with an individual's unique values, consistent with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).
claimThe Montreal model for ketamine treatment does not mandate a specific type of psychotherapy, but instead requires the use of any evidence-based approach, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) or Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), that the patient is willing to pursue.
claimAcceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is effective in reducing depression.
claimThe Montreal model of psychedelic-assisted therapy aligns with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) models by viewing psychedelic experiences as opportunities for experiential learning, such as learning to let go.
referenceSloshower, Guss, Krause, et al. published a study on psilocybin-assisted therapy of major depressive disorder using acceptance and commitment therapy as a therapeutic frame in the Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science (2020).
Evidence-Based Treatments for Anxiety, Depression, and Behavior ... advancedtherapeuticsolutions.org 3 facts
claimIn the context of anxiety, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) aims to help individuals learn to pursue their goals and live according to their values while experiencing anxiety.
claimAcceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) aims to help individuals commit to their values and the type of person they want to be while tolerating uncomfortable emotions.
claimAcceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is an evidence-based treatment that involves becoming aware of one's thoughts and emotions and being mindful of how one acts on them in relation to personal values.
Self-awareness, self-regulation, and self-transcendence (S-ART) frontiersin.org 3 facts
referenceS. C. Hayes, J. B. Luoma, F. W. Bond, A. Masuda, and J. Lillis published a model, processes, and outcomes analysis of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy in 2006 in Behavioral Research and Therapy.
claimKabat-Zinn's conceptualization of mindfulness serves as the foundation for several evidence-based clinical interventions, including Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention (MBRP), the Relaxation Response, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT).
referenceFletcher and Hayes (2005) provided a functional analytic definition of mindfulness within the context of relational frame theory and acceptance and commitment therapy in the article 'Relational frame theory, acceptance and commitment therapy, and a functional analytic definition of mindfulness' published in the Journal of Rational-Emotive & Cognitive-Behavior Therapy.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder | Counseling Nexus manifold.counseling.org 2 facts
referenceAcceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) emphasizes values-driven behavior and cognitive diffusion, while mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) fosters nonjudgmental awareness and a decentered stance toward anxious thinking, as noted by Kress et al. (2020).
referenceAcceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) emphasizes values-driven behavior and cognitive diffusion, while mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) fosters nonjudgmental awareness and a decentered stance toward anxious thinking, according to Kress et al. (2020).
Efficacy of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Anxiety-Related Disorders link.springer.com Dec 19, 2022 1 fact
claimThe meta-analysis excluded 'third-wave' interventions, such as acceptance and commitment therapy and mindfulness-based interventions, because these treatments involve exercises that go beyond the core CBT strategies of cognitive restructuring and exposure.
Psychedelics and Consciousness: Distinctions, Demarcations, and ... ouci.dntb.gov.ua 1 fact
perspectiveCognitive-behavioral therapies, including acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), are argued to have the strongest rationale for future psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy.
The Role of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in Treating Anxiety thesupportivecare.com Apr 25, 2025 1 fact
claimAcceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) shows similar effectiveness to traditional Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), with some studies suggesting it may be particularly helpful for patients who have not responded well to standard CBT.
6 Best Types of Therapies for Anxiety Treatment psychiatrynyc.com Sep 10, 2025 1 fact
claimAcceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) teaches individuals to accept difficult thoughts and feelings rather than fighting against them, while encouraging mindfulness and value-driven actions.