Comparison of the Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in Patients with Treatment-Resistant Depression

Authors

    Mahnaz Sanjari Department of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, Ga.C., Islamic Azad University, Semnan, Iran
    Zakieh Sadeghi * Department of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, Ga.C., Islamic Azad University, Semnan, Iran nawhid.psychologist@gmail.com
    Mahboobeh Saberi Department of Family Counseling, Kho.C, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran
    Esmatsadat Ataei Kachoei Department of General Psychology, Isf.C., Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, lran
    Reyhaneh Tajad Department of Clinical Psychology, Na.C., Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran

Keywords:

روان درمانی مبتنی بر پذیرش و تعهد (ACT), درمان شناختی- رفتاری (CBT, افسردگی مقاوم به درمان.

Abstract

The objective of the present study was to compare the effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) in patients with treatment-resistant depression. The statistical population of this study included all adult patients referring to psychiatric clinics in Tehran who had received at least two standard courses of pharmacological treatment for depression and still experienced depressive symptoms. A total of 60 participants were selected as the sample through purposive sampling and were randomly assigned equally into three groups: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and control groups. The research instrument was the Beck Depression Inventory–Second Edition (BDI-II). Participants in each experimental group received Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy interventions. The analysis of the findings indicated that both Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy were effective in reducing treatment-resistant depression. No significant difference was observed between Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy approaches. Furthermore, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy was more effective in reducing treatment-resistant depression among women compared to men.

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Published

2026-06-22

Submitted

2026-04-01

Revised

2026-05-11

Accepted

2026-05-19

How to Cite

Sanjari, M., Sadeghi, Z. ., Saberi, M. ., Ataei Kachoei, E. ., & Tajad, R. . (1405). Comparison of the Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in Patients with Treatment-Resistant Depression. Longevity, 4(2), 1-15. https://quarterlylongevity.com/index.php/longevity/article/view/79

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