Kyllönen, H. M., Muotka, J., Puolakanaho, A., Astikainen, P., Keinonen, K., & Lappalainen, R. (2018). A brief Acceptance and Commitment Therapy intervention for depression: A randomized controlled trial with 3-year follow-up for the intervention group. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science, 10, 55-63. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcbs.2018.08.009
Objective
This study examined the outcomes of a brief Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) intervention for depression delivered by novice therapists.
Method
Participants (N = 115) were randomized either to the brief (six sessions) ACT or to a waitlist control condition (WLC). Outcomes were assessed with diagnoses of depressive episodes (ICD-10) and questionnaires.
Results
After the 6-week intervention, diagnostic remission rates were 60% in the ACT and 22% in the control group. Further, 70% of the ACT participants were classified as either recovered or improved. The post-measurement between-group effect size for depression symptoms was large and favored the ACT group (BDI-II, d = 1.25). At the 3-year follow-up, the within-group effect sizes were encouraging (d = 1.11–1.77).
Conclusions
A 6-h ACT intervention delivered by novice therapists can lead to improvement in approximately 60–70% of depressed clients.
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