Awards for 2020-2021:
Samuel Spencer, M.A., University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa; Akihiko Masuda, Ph.D., University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
Acceptance and commitment therapy as a transdiagnostic treatment for mental health concerns among adults in Hawai’i
Lay Summary
Alleviating the impact of mental health concerns is an important goal within behavioral healthcare. While much research exists concerning outcomes of cognitive behavioral psychosocial treatments, relatively less is known about the processes of change underlying treatment efficacy. Understanding empirically supported processes of change linked to treatment procedures may also be useful for adapting interventions to better serve individuals from diverse sociocultural contexts, such as those found in Hawai’i. One intervention that is commensurate with a process-based, transdiagnostic approach to treatment is acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), an empirically supported psychosocial treatment that seeks to increase values-embodied adaptive functioning (i.e., engaged living) and improve overall quality of life in individuals suffering from a wide variety of behavioral health concerns.
In the current study, we will investigate the effects of, and process of change within, an individually delivered ACT intervention in a university-based community sample in Honolulu, Hawai‘i. Inclusion criteria will focus on experiential avoidance (EA), an underlying generalized process of change within ACT. A multiple baseline design (MBD) across participants will be used to analyze treatment effects and processes of change within participants (N = 5-7). Daily self-monitored clinically relevant target behaviors (e.g., behavioral excesses and deficits related to each participant’s presenting concerns), as well as daily measures of EA and engaged living (EL) will be collected as the primary variables of analysis, along with weekly nomothetic self-report measures of EA and EL. Self-report measures of relevant outcome variables (e.g., psychological distress, quality of life) will also be collected at pre-/mid-/post-treatment/3-month follow-up. The current study aims to better understand the processes of change within ACT and evaluate its impact on transdiagnostic behavioral health issues within a university-based community sample in Hawai’i. This research seeks to further the CBS mission of developing and refining interventions for the betterment of individuals in diverse contexts.
Marianna Zacharia, BSc, MSc, PhD candidate, University of Cyprus, ACTHEALTHY lab; Maria Karekla, Ph.D., University of Cyprus and Center for Cognitive Behavioral Psychology, Nicosia, Cyprus; Artemis Theofanous, B.A., M.A., University of Cyprus, ACTHEALTHY lab
An Intervention for female breast CANcer: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (I-CAN-ACT) for depression and physical pain
Lay Summary
Women with breast cancer encounter various debilitating, frequently co-occurring psychological and physical symptoms due to the cancer diagnosis and medical treatment/surgery. Depression and physical pain frequently co-occur and are common symptoms breast cancer patients seek help for. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a promising intervention model with preliminary empirical evidence to suggest its effectiveness for dealing with the psychological parameters associated with cancer. However, the ACT-based Randomized Clinical Trials conducted thus far have not focused on examining its effects on physical pain within the cancer context and have mainly focused solely on depression or anxiety. The aim is to examine the efficacy of a brief ACT-based intervention for both, depression and physical pain compared to a waitlist control group for women with breast cancer, who have undergone breast surgery, and experience at least mild depression and intensity and interference of physical pain. The ACT intervention will be delivered in a group format, 90 minutes weekly, for six weeks. Treatment outcomes will include quality of life, physical pain intensity and interference, depression, and anxiety. Also, treatment acceptability and adherence to the brief ACT intervention in terms of retention, treatment engagement and satisfaction with each session and with the overall treatment will be assessed. Reasons for dropout will be recorded. The mediating effects of the ACT-based intervention on treatment outcomes will be examined through ACT proposed processes (acceptance, cognitive defusion, contact with the present moment, self-as-context and self-compassion, values clarification, and committed action). The improvement in ACT proposed processes will be assessed daily during the intervention period (Ecological Momentary Assessment methodology). This study will enable the clarification and refinement of ACT theory for female breast cancer patients experiencing physical pain and depression.
Psychopathology prevention programs can be developed and psychological treatment can be ameliorated by targeting cancer-related symptoms through transdiagnostic processes.