Climbing Our Hills: A Beginning Conversation on the Comparison of ACT and CBT
The history and developmental program of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and relational frame theory (RFT) is described, and against that backdrop the target article is considered. In the authors’ comparison of ACT and traditional cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), traditional CBT does not refer to specific processes, principles, or theories but to a tribal tradition. Framed in that way, comparisons of ACT and CBT cannot succeed intellectually, because CBT cannot be pinned down.
ACT and CBT for anxiety disorders: Different treatments, similar mechanisms?
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) researchers and scholars carry assumptions about the characteristics of these therapies, and the extent to which they differ from one another. This article examines proposed differences between CBT and ACT for anxiety disorders, including aspects of treatment components, processes, and outcomes. The general conclusion is that the treatments are more similar than distinct.
The elaboration and evolution of CBT: A familiar foundation and creative application with chronic pain
The case presented by Wicksell and colleagues (2005) raises a number of intriguing issues, particularly about the utility and application of cognitive and behavioral approaches in pain management. Rather than focus on the specific application of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT; Hayes, Strosahl, and Wilson, 1999) in this case, we have chosen to comment on how their work reminds us of the similarities across CBT approaches and to suggest some minor but important modifications.
The elaboration and evolution of CBT: A familiar foundation and creative application with chronic pain
The case presented by Wicksell and colleagues (2005) raises a number of intriguing issues, particularly about the utility and application of cognitive and behavioral approaches in pain management. Rather than focus on the specific application of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT; Hayes, Strosahl, and Wilson, 1999) in this case, we have chosen to comment on how their work reminds us of the similarities across CBT approaches and to suggest some minor but important modifications.
Are there any potential advantages of traditional CBT compared to ACT?
It is an empirical question, as was the previous one.
As for data so far, right now we have two studies showing a smaller effect size for ACT than for a traditional CBT procedure done outside of an ACT model. Zettle, 2003 found a smaller effect for ACT than for systematic desensitization with trait anxiety when treating a relatively minor problem (math anxiety). The effect was the same in the area of math anxiety per se.
Are there advantages of ACT as compared to traditional CBT?
Ultimately this is an empirical question. After considering that we can look at the possible advantages in a theoretical sense.
Right now there are a handful of studies that have looked directly and they tend to be medium to small. Only a few are published, and one of these barely mentions outcome because it was a piece on process of change. So we have a long way to go before this question will be answered empirically.
Here are the studies done so far: