Abstract
The Use of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for the Treatment of Anxiety and Depression
Author(s): Motahhareh Isarizadeh, Tahereh Sadeghiyeh, Seyedeh Sara Naghib Hosseini, Saeid Motevalli and Mohammad Saleh Shokouhi Qare Saadlou*Anxiety and depression are among the most common psychological disorders. However, despite extensive research on effective therapeutic interventions and their promising results, there are still significant shortcomings. In response to these shortcomings, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) emerged as a third wave cognitive therapy to reformulate conceptualization and treatment of anxiety and depression disorders. The purpose of the ACT is to increase engagement in activities that bring meaning, vitality and value to the lives of individuals who experience persistent anxiety, depression, pain and discomfort. The ACT extends previous forms of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and integrates many CBT-related variables into six main therapeutic processes. ACT is a process-based therapy that enhances openness, awareness, and engagement through a wide range of methods, including exposure-based methods, metaphors, and value clarification, and reduces anxiety and stress. This review examines the main features, description, basics, and empirical evidence of ACT as a treatment for anxiety and depression disorders.