The effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) on distress tolerance and the severity of obsessive-compulsive symptoms

Abstract

Introduction: Obsessive-compulsive disorder is a chronic psychological disorder that causes serious damage to the mental, emotional and communication health of patients. Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), on distress tolerance and the severity of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Method: This study was designed using a Quasi-experimental method and pre-test, post-test as and control group. The study population included all patients referred to the psychiatric ward of Mostafa Khomeini Hospital in Dorood between 2018 and 2019. For this purpose, 20 patients with OCD were selected by convenience sampling and assigned to two groups of ACT and control. Each group was tested before and after the intervention by the Yale-Brown scale and the distress tolerance questionnaire (DTQ). The experimental group received 8 sessions of treatment based on ACT and the control group was not subjected to therapy. Data were analyzed by multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) through SPSS Statistics 24 and presented by descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: The results suggest that ACT had a significant statistical effect on reducing OCD symptoms (P= 0.000, F= 92.503) and increasing distress tolerance (P= 0/000, F= 33.889). Its effect on the obsession and distress tolerance variables was 87.7% and 72.3%, respectively. Conclusion: Considering the therapeutic elements of ACT and its coordination with the psychological problems of OCD, it can be a suitable therapy for these patients.

Keywords

• acceptance and commitment therapy
• obsessive-compulsive disorder
• distress tolerance