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Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

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Encyclopedia of Behavioral Medicine

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Synonyms

ACT

Definition

Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is considered one of the third wave of behavioral therapies (Hayes 2016). The term ACT (articulated as one word, Hayes et al. 1999) describes the three core functional components of this form of therapy, specifically (1) accepting what a person has and cannot be changed; (2) choosing to live life according to one’s values; and (3) taking action to live a meaningful life aligning with one’s values (Hayes et al. 1999). Notably, the overarching objective of ACT is to enhance psychological flexibility to help individuals live a purposeful life consistent with their values (Hayes 2016).

Description

Brief History of Behavioral Therapies

Over the past 70 years, behavioral therapies (BTs) have evolved over three generations (Hayes 2016). The first generation comprises the traditional BTs derived from the principles of operant and classical conditioning theories. The second generation encompasses the traditional cognitive therapy...

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References and Further Reading

  • Fashler, S. R., Weinrib, A. Z., Azam, M. A., & Katz, J. (2018). The use if acceptance and commitment therapy in oncology settings: A narrative review. Psychological Reports, 121, 229–252. https://doi.org/10.1177/0033294117726061.

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  • Griffiths, C., Williamson, H., Zucchelli, F., Paraskeva, N., & Moss, T. (2018). A systematic review of the effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) for body image dissatisfaction and weight self-stigma in adults. Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy, 48, 189–204. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10879-018-9384-0.

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  • Hacker, T., Stone, P., & MacBeth, A. (2016). Acceptance and commitment therapy – Do we know enough? Cumulative and sequential meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials. Journal of Affective Disorders, 190, 551–565. https://doi.org/10.1016/j/jad.2015.10.053.

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  • Hann, K. E. J., & McCracken, L. M. (2014). A systematic review of randomized controlled trials of acceptance and commitment therapy for adults with chronic pain: Outcome domains, design quality and efficacy. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science, 3, 217–227. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcbs.2014.10.001.

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  • Hayes, S. C., Strosahl, K. D., & Wilson, K. G. (1999). Acceptance and commitment therapy: An experiential approach to behavior change. New York: The Guilford Press.

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  • Hayes, S. C., Barnes-Holmes, D., & Roche, B. (Eds.). (2001). Relational frame theory: A post-Skinnerian account of human language and cognition. New York: Plenum Press.

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  • Hayes, S. C., Luoma, J. B., Bond, F. W., Masuda, A., & Lillis, J. (2006). Acceptance and commitment therapy: Model, processes and outcomes. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 44, 1–25. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2005.06.006.

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  • Hayes, S.C. (2016). Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, relational frame theory, and the third wave of behavioral and cognitive therapies – Republished article. Behavior Therapy, 47, 869–885. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0005-7894(04) 80013-3.

  • Hughes, L. S., Clark, J., Colclough, J. A., Dale, E., & McMillan, D. (2017). Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) for chronic pain: A systematic review and meta-analyses. Clinical Journal of Pain, 33, 552–568. https://doi.org/10.1097/AJP.0000000000000425.

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  • Ost, L.G. (2008). Efficacy of the third wave of behavioral therapies: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 46, 296–321. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2007.12.005

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  • Powers, M. B., Vording, V. S., Zum, M. B., & Emmelkamp, P. M. G. (2009). Acceptance and commitment therapy: A meta-analytic review. Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, 78, 73–80. https://doi.org/10.1159/000190790.

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  • Ruiz, F. J. (2010). A review of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) empirical evidence: Correlational, experimental psychopathology, component and outcome studies. International Journal of Psychology and Psychological Therapy, 10, 125–162.

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  • Wicksell, R. K., Ahlqvist, J., Bring, A., Melin, L., & Olsson, G. L. (2008). Can exposure and acceptance strategies improve functioning and life satisfaction in people with chronic pain and whiplash-associated disorders (WAD)? A randomized controlled trial. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, 37, 169–182.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Centre for Emotional Health, Sydney, NSW, Australia

    Maria Kangas

Authors
  1. Maria Kangas
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Correspondence to Maria Kangas .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA

    Marc Gellman

Section Editor information

  1. Centre for Emotional Health, Department of Psychology, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia

    Kerry A. Sherman

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Kangas, M. (2020). Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. In: Gellman, M. (eds) Encyclopedia of Behavioral Medicine. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6439-6_101978-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6439-6_101978-1

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  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4614-6439-6

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