The Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Adolescent Mental Health: Swedish and Australian Pilot Outcomes

Journal of Child and Family Studies

Volumn 24, Issue 4, 2015, Pages 1016-1030

  Livheim, Fredrik ^a,b   Hayes, Louise ^c   Ghaderi, Ata ^a   Magnusdottir, Thora ^d   Högfeldt, Anna ^d   Rowse, Julie ^e   Turner, Simone ^e   Hayes, Steven C ^f   Tengström, Anders ^a  

^a KAROLINSKA INSTITUTE   (Sweden)

^b University of Melbourne ^*  (Sweden)

^c UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE   (Australia)

^d UPPSALA UNIVERSITY   (Sweden)

^e BALLARAT HEALTH SERVICES   (Australia)

^f UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA   (United States)

Author keywords

ACT (Acceptance and commitment therapy); Adolescent depression; Adolescent stress; School intervention

Indexed keywords

EID: 84893206651     PISSN: 10621024     EISSN: 15732843     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1007/s10826-014-9912-9     Document Type: Article

References (59)

1. Bethay, J. S., Wilson, K. G., Schnetzer, L. W., Nassar, S. L., & Bordieri, M. J. (2013). A controlled pilot evaluation of acceptance and commitment training for intellectual disability staff. Mindfulness,4(2), 113–121. doi:10.1007/s12671-012-0103-8.
2. Biglan, A., Hayes, S. C., & Pistorello, J. (2008). Acceptance and commitment: Implications for prevention science. Prevention Science,9(3), 139–152. doi:10.1007/s11121-008-0099-4.
3. Bond, F. W., & Bunce, D. (2000). Mediators of change in emotion-focused and problem-focused worksite stress management interventions. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology,5(1), 156–163. doi:10.1037//1076-8998.5.1.156.
4. Brinkborg, H., Michanek, J., Hesser, H., & Berglund, G. (2011). Acceptance and commitment therapy for the treatment of stress among social workers: A randomized controlled trial. Behaviour Research and Therapy,49(6–7), 389–398. doi:10.1016/j.brat.2011.03.009.
5. Brown, T. A., Chorpita, B. F., Korotitsch, W., & Barlow, D. H. (1997). Psychometric properties of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS) in clinical samples. Behaviour Research and Therapy,35(1), 79–89. doi:10.1016/s0005-7967(96)00068-x.
6. Brown, K. W., & Ryan, R. M. (2003). The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology,84(4), 822–848. doi:10.1037/0022-3514.84.4.822.
7. Calear, A. L., & Christensen, H. (2010). Systematic review of school-based prevention and early intervention programs for depression. Journal of Adolescence,33(3), 429–438. doi:10.1016/j.adolescence.2009.07.004.
8. Campbell, A., Walker, J., & Farrell, G. (2003). Confirmatory factor analysis of the GHQ-12: Can I see that again? Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry,37(4), 475–483. doi:10.1046/j.1440-1614.2003.01208.x.
9. Cohen, J. (1988). Statistical power analysis for the behavioral sciences (2nd ed.). Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.
10. Cohen, S., & Janicki-Deverts, D. (2012). Who’s stressed? Distributions of psychological stress in the United States in probability samples from 1983, 2006, and 2009. Journal of Applied Social Psychology,42(6), 1320–1334. doi:10.1111/j.1559-1816.2012.00900.x.
11. Cohen, S., Kessler, R. C., & Underwood Gordon, L. (1995). Measuring stress: A guide for health and social scientists. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
12. Duckworth, A. L., Kim, B., & Tsukayama, E. (2013). Life stress impairs self-control in early adolescence. Frontiers in Psychology,3, 608. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2012.00608.
13. Eskin, M., & Parr, D. (1996). Introducing a Swedish version of an instrument measuring mental stress (Reports from the Department of Psychology, No. 813). Stockholm, Sweden: Stockholm University.
14. Flaxman, P. E., & Bond, F. W. (2010a). A randomised worksite comparison of acceptance and commitment therapy and stress inoculation training. Behaviour Research and Therapy,48(8), 816–820. doi:10.1016/j.brat.2010.05.004.
15. Flaxman, P. E., & Bond, F. W. (2010b). Worksite stress management training: Moderated effects and clinical significance. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology,15(4), 347–358. doi:10.1037/a0020522.
16. Flay, B. R., Biglan, A., Boruch, R. F., Castro, F. G., Gottfredson, D., Kellam, S., et al. (2005). Standards of evidence: Criteria for efficacy, effectiveness and dissemination. Prevention Science,6(3), 151–175. doi:10.1007/s11121-005-5553-y.
17. Gao, F., Luo, N., Thumboo, J., Fones, C., Li, S. C., & Cheung, Y. B. (2004). Does the 12-item General Health Questionnaire contain multiple factors and do we need them? Health and Quality of Life Outcomes,2, 63. doi:10.1186/1477-7525-2-63.
18. Goodman, R. (2001). Psychometric properties of the strengths and difficulties questionnaire. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry,40(11), 1337–1345. doi:10.1097/00004583-200111000-00015.
19. Goodman, R., Meltzer, H., & Bailey, V. (2003). The strengths and difficulties questionnaire: A pilot study on the validity of the self-report version. International Review of Psychiatry,15(1–2), 173–177. doi:10.1080/0954026021000046137.
20. Grant, K. E., Compas, B. E., Thurm, A. E., McMahon, S. D., & Gipson, P. Y. (2004). Stressors and child and adolescent psychopathology: Measurement issues and prospective effects. Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology,33(2), 412–425. doi:10.1207/s15374424jccp3302_23.
21. Greco, L. A., Baer, R. A., & Lambert, W. (2008). Psychological inflexibility in childhood and adolescence: Development and evaluation of the Avoidance and Fusion Questionnaire for Youth. Psychological Assessment,20(2), 93–102. doi:10.1037/1040-3590.20.2.93.
22. Hankin, B. L., Mermelstein, R., & Roesch, L. (2007). Sex differences in adolescent depression: Stress exposure and reactivity models. Child Development,78(1), 279–295. doi:10.1111/j.1467-8624.2007.00997.x.
23. Hayes, L. L., Boyd, C. P., & Sewell, J. (2011). Acceptance and commitment therapy for the treatment of adolescent depression: A pilot study in a psychiatric outpatient setting. Mindfulness,2(2), 86–94. doi:10.1007/s12671-011-0046-5.
24. 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), 1–25. doi:10.1016/j.brat.2005.06.006.
25. Hayes, L. L., & Rowse, J. (2008). Acceptance and commitment therapy: Experiential adolescent group. Retrieved from Association for Contextual Behavioral Science website: http://contextualpsychology.org/treatment_protocols.
26. Hayes, S. C., & Strosahl, K. D. (Eds.). (2004). A practical guide to acceptance and commitment therapy. New York, NY: Springer.
27. Hayes, S. C., Strosahl, K. D., & Wilson, K. G. (2012). Acceptance and commitment therapy: The process and practice of mindful change (2nd ed.). New York, NY: Guilford Press.
28. Heffner, M., Sperry, J., Eifert, G. H., & Detweiler, M. (2002). Acceptance and commitment therapy in the treatment of an adolescent female with anorexia nervosa: A case example. Cognitive and Behavioral Practice,9(3), 232–236. doi:10.1016/s1077-7229(02)80053-0.
29. Hewitt, P. L., Flett, G. L., & Mosher, S. W. (1992). The perceived stress scale: Factor structure and relation to depression symptoms in a psychiatric sample. Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment,14(3), 247–257. doi:10.1007/BF00962631.
30. Horowitz, J. L., Garber, J., Ciesla, J. A., Young, J. F., & Mufson, L. (2007). Prevention of depressive symptoms in adolescents: A randomized trial of cognitive-behavioral and interpersonal prevention programs. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology,75(5), 693–706. doi:10.1037/0022-006x.75.5.693.
31. Jakobsson, C., & Wellin, J. (2006). Acceptance and commitment therapy and stress in school: A two year follow up of a randomized controlled trial (Master′s thesis, Uppsala University, Sweden). Retrieved from http://www.livskompass.se/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/act-stress-i-skolan-2arsuppfoljning.pdf.
32. Keenan-Miller, D., Hammen, C. L., & Brennan, P. A. (2007). Health outcomes related to early adolescent depression. Journal of Adolescent Health,41(3), 256–262. doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2007.03.015.
33. Livheim, F. (2004). Acceptance and commitment therapy in school setting: To cope with stress, a randomized controlled trial (Master′s thesis, Uppsala University, Sweden). Retrieved from http://www.livskompass.se/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/act-i-skolan-2004.pdf.
34. Merry, S. N., Hetrick, S. E., Cox, G. R., Brudevold-Iversen, T., Bir, J. J., & McDowell, H. (2011). Psychological and educational interventions for preventing depression in children and adolescents. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2011(12), Art. No.: CD003380. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD003380.pub3.
35. Merry, S. N., McDowell, H., Hetrick, S., Bir, J., & Muller, N. (2004). Psychological and/or educational interventions for the prevention of depression in children and adolescents. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Art. No.: CD003380. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD003380.pub2.
36. Merry, S. N., & Spence, S. H. (2007). Attempting to prevent depression in youth: A systematic review of the evidence. Early Intervention in Psychiatry,1(2), 128–137. doi:10.1111/j.1751-7893.2007.00030.x.
37. Metzler, C. W., Biglan, A., Noell, J., Ary, D. V., & Ochs, L. (2000). A randomized controlled trial of a behavioral intervention to reduce high-risk sexual behavior among adolescents in STD clinics. Behavior Therapy,31(1), 27–54. doi:10.1016/s0005-7894(00)80003-9.
38. Montazeri, A., Hole, D. J., Milroy, R., McEwen, J., & Gillis, C. R. (2004). Does knowledge of cancer diagnosis affect quality of life? A methodological challenge. BMC Cancer, 4(21). doi:10.1186/1471-2407-4-21.
39. Mrazek, P. J., & Haggerty, R. J. (1994). Reducing risks for mental disorders: Frontiers for preventive intervention research. Washington, DC: National Academies Press.
40. Muris, P., Meesters, C., Eijkelenboom, A., & Vincken, M. (2004). The self-report version of the strengths and difficulties questionnaire: Its psychometric properties in 8- to 13-year-old non-clinical children. British Journal of Clinical Psychology,43(4), 437–448. doi:10.1348/0144665042388982.
41. Neto, F. (1993). The satisfaction with life scale: Psychometric properties in an adolescent sample. Journal of Youth and Adolescence,22(2), 125–134. doi:10.1007/BF01536648.
42. Ost, L.-G. (2008). Efficacy of the third wave of behavioral therapies: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Behaviour Research and Therapy,46(3), 296–321. doi:10.1016/j.brat.2007.12.005.
43. Parker, G., & Roy, K. (2001). Adolescent depression: A review. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry,35(5), 572–580. doi:10.1046/j.1440-1614.2001.00934.x.
44. Pavot, W., & Diener, E. (1993). Review of the satisfaction with life scale. Psychological Assessment,5(2), 164–172. doi:10.1037/1040-3590.5.2.164.
45. Politi, P. L., Piccinelli, M., & Wilkinson, G. (1994). Reliability, validity and factor structure of the 12-item General Health Questionnaire among young males in Italy. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica,90(6), 432–437. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0447.1994.tb01620.x.
46. Powers, M. B., Vording, M. B. Z. V. S., & Emmelkamp, P. M. G. (2009). Acceptance and commitment therapy: A meta-analytic review. Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics,78(2), 73–80. doi:10.1159/000190790.
47. Rao, U., Hammen, C., Ortiz, L. R., Chen, L. A., & Poland, R. E. (2008). Effects of early and recent adverse experiences on adrenal response to psychosocial stress in depressed adolescents. Biological Psychiatry,64(6), 521–526. doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2008.05.012.
48. Reynolds, W. M. (2002). Reynold’s adolescent depression scale-2nd Edition: Professional manual. Lutz, FL: Psychological Assessment Resources.
49. Reynolds, W. M. (2010). Reynolds Adolescent Depression Scale. In I. B. Weiner & W. E. Craighead (Eds.), The corsini encyclopedia of psychology. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.
50. Rosenthal, R., & Rosnow, R. L. (1991). Essentials of behavioral research: Methods and data analysis (2nd Ed.): New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.
51. Rosnow, R. L., Rosenthal, R., & Rubin, D. B. (2000). Contrasts and correlations in effect-size estimation. Psychological Science,11(6), 446–453. doi:10.1111/1467-9280.00287.
52. Statistics Sweden. (2010). Undersökningarna av barns levnadsförhållanden[The surveys of children’s living conditions]. Pressrelease from SCB 16/08/10. No. 2010:209: Retrieved from Statistics Sweden: http://www.scb.se/Pages/PressRelease_298563.aspx.
53. Theodore-Oklota, C., & Orsillo, S. (2011). A mindfulness-based program aimed at reducing the impact of relational aggression. Paper presented at 2011 Association for Contextual Behavioral Science Annual World Conference 9, Parma, Italy.
54. Verbeke, G., & Molenberghs, G. (2000). Linear mixed models for longitudinal data. New York, NY: Springer.
55. Wackerly, D., Mendenhall, W., & Scheaffer, R. L. (2008). Mathematical statistics with applications (7th ed.). Belmont, CA: Thomson Learning.
56. Wicksell, R. K., Melin, L., Lekander, M., & Olsson, G. L. (2009). Evaluating the effectiveness of exposure and acceptance strategies to improve functioning and quality of life in longstanding pediatric pain. A randomized controlled trial. Pain,141(3), 248–257. doi:10.1016/j.pain.2008.11.006.
57. Wilson, K. G., & Murrell, A. R. (2002). ACT for LIFE (Lifting Individuals for Future Endeavors): A treatment manual for at-risk youth. Retrieved from Association for Contextual Behavioral Sciences website: http://contextualscience.org/files/ACT_for_Life_Protocol_2_12_03%5B1%5D_0.pdf.
58. World Health Organization. (2011). Young people: Health risks and solutions. (Fact sheet No. 345). Retrieved from World Health Organization website: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs345/en/index.html.
59. World Medical Association. (2008). Declaration of Helsinki: Ethical principle for medical research involving human subjects. Retrieved from http://www.healthscience.net/resources/declaration-of-helsinki/.