This list was updated in November 2021. The State of ACT Evidence webpage has an up-to-date list.
A number of different organizations, external to ACBS, have stated that ACT is empirically supported in certain areas or as a whole according to their standards. These include:
i. American Psychological Association, Society of Clinical Psychology (Div. 12), Research Supported Psychological Treatments:
Chronic Pain - Strong Research Support
Depression - Modest Research Support
Mixed anxiety - Modest Research Support
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder - Modest Research Support
Psychosis - Modest Research Support
For more information on what the "modest" and "strong" labels mean, click here
ii. California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse for Child Welfare (click here for the report)
Depression Treatment (Adult) - Scientific Rating 1 (Well Supported by Research Evidence)
iii. U.S. VA/DoD Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of Major Depressive Disorder
http://www.healthquality.va.gov/guidelines/MH/mdd/MDDCPGClinicianSummaryFINAL5192016.pdf
iv. Title IV-E U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Prevention Services Clearinghouse (under review, 2021: mental health; substance use).
v. The World Health Organization
Pain (Children and Adolescents) - WHO lists ACT as empirically supported ("moderate certainty") in the reduction of functional disability in children and adolescents with chronic pain (click here for the 2020 report).
vi. The UK National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE)
Pain - NICE recommends ACT for people aged 16 years and over with chronic primary pain. (click here for the full report).
Tinnitus - NICE recommends group-based ACT for tinnitus-related distress. (click here for the full report).
vii. Australian Psychological Society, Evidence Based Psychological Interventions in the Treatment of Mental Disorders (2018):
Adults
Anxiety disorders - Generalised anxiety disorder – Level II Evidence
Anxiety disorders - Social anxiety disorder – Level II Evidence
Anxiety disorders - Panic disorder – Level II Evidence
Borderline personality disorder – Level II Evidence
Depression – Level II Evidence
Hypochondriasis – Level II Evidence
Obsessive compulsive disorder – Level II Evidence
Pain Disorders – Level II Evidence
Psychotic disorders – Level II Evidence
Substance use disorders – Level II Evidence
Binge eating disorder – Level IV Evidence
Body dysmorphic disorder – Level IV Evidence
Children (age 10-14 years)
Pain Disorders – Level II Evidence
viii. Netherlands Institute of Psychologists: Sections of Neuropsychology and Rehabilitation, Richtlijn Neuropsychologie Revalidate (2017)
The Netherlands Institute of Psychologists (NIP) recommends ACT for patients with MS with depressive symptoms
ix. Sweden Association of Physiotherapists, Fysioterapi Profession och vetenskap (2016)
The Swedish Association of Physiotherapy (physical therapy) includes ACT as a physiotherapeutic theory and practice in the definition of the profession.
x. SAMHSA's National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices, ACT, last review July 2010. (NREPP was shut down in 2018, so this will not be updated unfortunately)