Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: Model, processes and outcomes

To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2005.06.006 Byline: Steven C. Hayes (a), Jason B. Luoma (a), Frank W. Bond (b), Akihiko Masuda (a), Jason Lillis (a) Keywords: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy; Relational Frame Theory; Mindfulness; Acceptance; Mediational analysis; Third generation CBT; Clinical behavior analysis; Contextualism Abstract: The present article presents and reviews the model of psychopathology and treatment underlying Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). ACT is unusual in that it is linked to a comprehensive active basic research program on the nature of human language and cognition (Relational Frame Theory), echoing back to an earlier era of behavior therapy in which clinical treatments were consciously based on basic behavioral principles. The evidence from correlational, component, process of change, and outcome comparisons relevant to the model are broadly supportive, but the literature is not mature and many questions have not yet been examined. What evidence is available suggests that ACT works through different processes than active treatment comparisons, including traditional Cognitive-Behavior Therapy (CBT). There are not enough well-controlled studies to conclude that ACT is generally more effective than other active treatments across the range of problems examined, but so far the data are promising. Author Affiliation: (a) Department of Psychology, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557-0062, USA (b) Goldsmiths College, University of London, UK Article History: Received 4 June 2005; Accepted 30 June 2005