Comparing the effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and cognitive-behavioral therapy in patients with treatment-resistant depression

Abstract

The aim of the present study is to compare the effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and cognitive-behavioral therapy in patients with treatment-resistant depression. The statistical population of the present study is all adult patients referred to psychiatric clinics in Tehran who have received at least two courses of standard drug treatment for depression and still have symptoms of depression. A total of 60 people were selected as a sample purposefully and were randomly assigned to 3 groups of acceptance and commitment therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and control in equal numbers. The research instrument is the Beck Depression Inventory, Second Edition (BDI-II). Each person in the experimental group was subjected to acceptance and commitment therapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy. Analysis of the findings shows that acceptance and commitment therapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy are effective in reducing treatment-resistant depression. There is no significant difference between cognitive-behavioral therapy and acceptance and commitment psychotherapy. Also, acceptance and commitment psychotherapy is more effective in reducing treatment-resistant depression in women than in men.