Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)-based therapy
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN11209732 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN11209732 |
| Protocol serial number | EKNZ: 165/13 |
| Sponsor | University of Basel (Switzerland) |
| Funder | Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung |
- Submission date
- 20/05/2016
- Registration date
- 22/08/2016
- Last edited
- 01/09/2025
- Recruitment status
- No longer recruiting
- Overall study status
- Completed
- Condition category
- Mental and Behavioural Disorders
Plain English summary of protocol
Background and study aims
Mental disorders are impairing for the individual and are associated with low quality of life and reduced well-being. Treatment resistance (inadequate response to treatment) occurs in 25%-50% of patients. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), a further development of traditional behavioral therapy, may offer a starting point for treatment-resistant patients precisely because the therapy does not attempt to eliminate symptoms. Instead, the therapy helps the patient to stop the unsuccessful struggle by fostering the willingness to openly experience emotions and thoughts as such. ACT has shown promising results even with highly impacted patients suffering from diverse psychological disorders. What remains unknown is whether and to what extent ACT transfers to treatment-resistant, chronic (long-term) patients treated in routine in- and out-patients treatment settings. Furthermore, the mechanisms underlying treatment success or failure remain largely unknown. This study will therefore examine the effectiveness of ACT treatment for patients with treatment-resistant disorders.
Who can participate?
Inpatients and outpatients aged 18 – 65 presenting for specialized treatment in a psychiatric university clinic
What does the study involve?
Both the inpatient unit and outpatient units of the Universitären Psychiatrischen Kliniken in Basel both apply Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. The treatment program in the inpatient unit involves intensive psychotherapy, individually and in groups. Treatment in the outpatient unit consists of individual intensive psychotherapy. The goal is to limit treatment to 3 months on average, however the length differs by individual, and is determined by clinical necessity. In addition, the patients are followed-up once they leave the clinic after 1, 4, 9 and 12 months.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Participants can obtain a summary of their responses that will be shared with their treatment provider. The results will inform us about the processes involved in successful and unsuccessful treatment. Participation in the assessment procedures of this study is not known to be associated with any risks.
Where is the study run from?
Universitäre Psychiatrische Kliniken Basel (Switzerland)
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
May 2016 to February 2021
Who is funding the study?
Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung (Switzerland)
Who is the main contact?
Prof. Andrew Gloster
Contact information
Scientific
Missionsstrasse 62a
University of Basel
Department of Psychology
Basel
4055
Switzerland
Study information
| Primary study design | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Study design | Effectiveness study with two non-randomized treatment arms (i.e., inpatient and outpatient) consisting of self-referring patients |
| Secondary study design | Non randomised study |
| Study type | Participant information sheet |
| Scientific title | Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)-based therapy |
| Study objectives | Effectiveness: 1. The Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)-specific intervention will lead to significant positive changes in two treatment settings (i.e., inpatient and outpatient). Moderator variables: 2. Psychological flexibility will moderate the negative impact of stressors such that it will be buffered in patients who show high levels in psychological flexibility. Long-Term Course and Outcome: 3. Positive changes observed between pretest and post-test will remain stable for 12 months following treatment in the ACT-condition. 4. The percentage of patients who successfully apply treatment processes following treatment will differ between the in- and out-patient settings. However, irrespective of setting, those patients who apply the processes will have less relapse. |
| Ethics approval(s) | Ethikkommission Nordwest- und Zentralschweiz, May 2016; Ref: EKNZ: 165/13 |
| Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied | Transdiagnostic, treatment-resistant patients, presenting for specialized in- and out-patient treatment |
| Intervention | Both the inpatient unit and outpatient units of the Universitären Psychiatrischen Kliniken in Basel will both apply Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. The treatment program in the inpatient unit involves intensive psychotherapy, individually and in groups. Treatment in the outpatient unit consists of individual intensive psychotherapy. Patients self-present for treatment and there is no randomisation. The goal is to limit treatment to 3 months on average, however the length differs by individual, and will be determined by clinical necessity, and cannot be guaranteed a priori. The study includes a pre-, post- and follow-up measurement. The follow up (FU) assessments will take place after 1, 4, 9 and 12 months. |
| Intervention type | Other |
| Primary outcome measure(s) |
1. Symptoms: Brief Symptom Checklist (BSCL) |
| Key secondary outcome measure(s) |
Measures of: |
| Completion date | 01/02/2021 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | Patient |
|---|---|
| Age group | Adult |
| Lower age limit | 18 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Target sample size at registration | 170 |
| Total final enrolment | 200 |
| Key inclusion criteria | 1. Individuals 18 – 65 years of age 2. Inpatients and outpatients presenting for specialized treatment in a psychiatric university clinic 3. A history of at least one course of previous therapy 4. Signed letter of consent Added 20/06/2019: Some patients without previous therapy experience were included to enable full modelling of patients from those without treatment experience to those with treatment experience. |
| Key exclusion criteria | 1. Less than 18, greater than 65 years of age 2. Inability to understand the local language (German) in written form 3. Inability to complete the study design |
| Date of first enrolment | 01/05/2016 |
| Date of final enrolment | 08/11/2019 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- Switzerland
Study participating centre
Switzerland
Results and Publications
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | No |
|---|---|
| IPD sharing plan summary | Data sharing statement to be made available at a later date |
| IPD sharing plan | Not provided at time of registration |
Study outputs
| Output type | Details | Date created | Date added | Peer reviewed? | Patient-facing? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Results article | 06/04/2023 | 11/04/2023 | Yes | No | |
| Results article | 31/05/2023 | 01/06/2023 | Yes | No | |
| Results article | 24/03/2021 | 01/09/2025 | Yes | No | |
| Protocol article | protocol | 10/06/2019 | 12/06/2019 | Yes | No |
| Participant information sheet | Participant information sheet | 11/11/2025 | 11/11/2025 | No | Yes |
| Study website | Study website | 11/11/2025 | 11/11/2025 | No | Yes |
Editorial Notes
01/09/2025: Publication reference added.
01/06/2023: Publication reference added.
11/04/2023: The following changes have been made:
1. Publication reference added.
2. The final enrolment number has been added from the reference.
16/03/2020: The following changes were made to the trial record:
1. The recruitment end date was changed from 01/10/2019 to 08/11/2019.
2. The trial website was added.
20/06/2019: The following changes were made to the trial record:
1. The recruitment end date was changed from 31/03/2019 to 01/10/2019.
2. The overall trial end date was changed from 01/06/2018 to 01/02/2021.
3. The inclusion criteria were updated.
12/06/2019: Publication reference added.
24/10/2018: The recruitment end date has been changed from 01/06/2018 to 31/03/2019
26/10/2017: Internal review.
