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The Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for Treating Anxiety Disorders: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Abstract
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) has gained recognition as an effective intervention for various mental health conditions, including anxiety disorders. This meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) examines the efficacy of ACT in reducing symptoms of anxiety disorders. Drawing from a comprehensive review of the literature, the meta-analysis synthesizes effect sizes from RCTs that assess the effectiveness of ACT compared to control conditions (e.g., waitlist, treatment as usual) in alleviating symptoms of anxiety disorders, such as generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and specific phobias. Additionally, it explores potential moderators of intervention effectiveness, such as treatment duration, format (individual vs. group), therapist involvement, and participant characteristics (e.g., age, baseline anxiety severity), to better understand the factors that influence the outcomes of ACT for anxiety disorders.
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References
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