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Dissemination & Implementation Science

Evaluating Symptom Reduction, Valued Living and Self-Compassion in Adults with Depression and Anxiety Following a Four Week Hospital-Based Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Program

(PS5-C66) Evaluating Symptom Reduction, Valued Living and Self-compassion in Adults with Depression and Anxiety Following a Four Week Hospital-based Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Program

Friday, November 17, 2023
2:30 PM – 3:30 PM PST
Location: Regency Ballroom, Level 7
As Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is becoming increasingly prevalent as a treatment for depression and anxiety, the body of research regarding its efficacy and theoretical basis is also expanding. Studies including numerous randomized controlled trials have demonstrated that ACT has been effective at treating a broad range of presenting concerns and diagnoses including anxiety and depression (Bohlmeijer et al., 2011; Dalrymple, 2006). Self-compassion and valued living have been shown to correlate negatively with depression and anxiety (Wetterneck et al., 2013; Macbeth & Gumley, 2012; Hayes, 2004), and constitute a central component of ACT theory and practice. This information underscores the efficacy of ACT and suggests a possible pathway through which those struggling with depression and anxiety may experience increases in self-compassion and value-consistent behavior. However, there are some gaps in the literature regarding research with individuals experiencing symptoms of both depression and anxiety, which are highly comorbid and account for approximately half of adults diagnosed with a depressive or anxious disorder (Kircanska et al., 2017). Additionally, self-compassion and valued living are rarely researched in conjunction with this population. Therefore, the current study aims to test the efficacy of a hospital-based ACT approach to enhancing self-compassion and valued living in those experiencing symptoms of depression and anxiety. In the current study, depressive symptoms were assessed using The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9; Kroenke et al., 2001) and symptoms of anxiety were measured using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 Scale (GAD-7; Spitzer et al., 2006). Self-compassion was assessed using the Self-Compassion Scale (SCS; Neff, 2003) and valued living was measured using the Valued Living Questionnaire (VLQ; Wilson et al., 2010). The sample consisted of thirty (N=30) adults aged 18 years or older who were participating in an intensive outpatient or partial hospitalization program which lasted four weeks and included an average of twenty sessions of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) delivered in a group format. Results indicate that there were significant reductions in symptoms of anxiety (t = 8.6, p < .001) and depression (t = 8.6, p< .001) following the ACT program. Furthermore, clients reported significant increases in value-consistent living (t = -3.4, p< .05) and self-compassion (t = -5.2, p< .001) at discharge as compared to their pre-treatment levels. Although this study is quasi-experimental and does not include a control group or random assignment, the significant results and substantial effect sizes from pre- to post-treatment suggest that Acceptance and Commitment Therapy can be highly effective when used in hospital settings and targets not only symptom reduction but also enhances self-compassion and value-consistent living.