Shi, J. Y., Cao, Y. M., Luo, H. Y., Liu, S., Yang, F. M., & Wang, Z. H. (2023). Effect of a group-based acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) intervention on self-esteem and psychological flexibility in patients with schizophrenia in remission. Schizophrenia Research, 255, 213-221. Doi: 10.1016/j.schres.2023.03.042
The present study explored whether acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), a cognitive behavioral therapyapproach, could improve the symptoms of schizophrenia spectrum disorders among patients with schizophrenia in remission. A pre- and post-treatment design with two evaluation time points was employed. Sixty outpatients with schizophrenia in remission were randomly divided into two groups: the ACT plus treatment as usual (ACT+TAU) and treatment as usual (TAU) groups. The ACT+TAU group participated in 10 group-based ACT interventions and TAU in the hospital, and the TAU group only received TAU interventions. General psychopathological symptoms, self-esteem, and psychological flexibility were assessed before intervention (baseline; pre-test) and after intervention (five weeks; post-test). Results indicated that, compared to the TAU group, the ACT+TAU group exhibited a more significant improvement in general psychopathological symptoms, selfesteem, cognitive fusion, and acceptance and action at post-test. ACT intervention could effectively decrease the general psycho-pathological symptoms and increase self-esteem level and psychological flexibility in people with schizophrenia in remission.