Utility of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Among Adolescents - A Systematic Review

Background: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is one of the third wave therapies that came as a response to certain limitations of cognitive-behavioral therapies and other existent psychotherapeutic models, which emphasizes changing the context of cognition rather than the content. ACT has a fast-growing evidence base, and its literature among the adolescent population is in its infancy. Objective: The authors attempted to consolidate findings of ACT’s effectiveness for clinical problems among the adolescent population. Methods: Electronic databases of PubMed, PsycArticles, PsycINFO, Sage, and ProQuest were searched for published studies and unpublished doctoral dissertations until April 2021. After adopting a two-staged screening process, 19 studies were selected, which included randomized controlled trials, case reports, and other quasi-experimental studies reporting results from ACT or ACT-based intervention given to a population of adolescents for any clinical conditions or concern. The authors present a narrative systematic review of these 19 studies, including a methodological assessment. Results: Results showed ACT to be effective in reducing objectively measured clinical symptoms and interference caused by them. Subjective accounts by adolescents and caregivers also corroborated that. More rigorous RCTs and comparisons with other active treatments are needed to improve the evidence base as such studies were few and had some methodological flaws. The authors also discuss certain limitations in assessing the effectiveness of ACT in such studies. Conclusion: The ACT model could serve as a promising alternative approach to be used with adolescents across many concerns, with an emphasis on improving the quality of life and their engagement with valued goals.