title: Comparing the effectiveness of acceptance-based behavior therapy and applied relaxation on acceptance of internal experiences, engagement in valued actions and quality of life in generalized anxiety disorder.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Acceptance-based behavior therapy (ABBT) was developed based on the theory that generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is maintained through a reactive and fused relationship with internal experiences and a tendency toward experiential avoidance and behavioral restriction. ABBT specifically targets these elements. Here, we aimed to compare ABBT to the applied relaxation (AR), which is the most utilized psychological therapy for GAD.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was a randomized clinical trial study. The sample included 18 GAD patients who were referred by an expert psychiatrist to Psychosomatic Research Center of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences. Patients were assigned into two groups (ABBT and AR group). Both groups received routine drug therapies by psychiatrists. The ABBT and AR were applied in 12 weekly sessions. The instruments used in the study included Valued Living Questionnaire, Action, and Acceptance Questionnaire, and Short-Form Health Survey-12 revised Version (SF-12V2). The data were analyzed using the multivariate analysis of variance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant differences were found between ABBT and AR groups in their acceptance of internal experiences, engagement in meaningful activities and quality of life (P > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The current study compared ABBT to the most utilized psychological therapy for GAD; i.e., AR. ABBT and AR have similar efficacy on acceptance of internal experiences, valued actions and quality of life.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Psychology, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran.
authors.forename: Fatemeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zargar
authors.forename: Ali Asghar Asgharnejad
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Farid
authors.forename: Mohammad-Kazem
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Atef-Vahid
authors.forename: Hamid
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Afshar
authors.forename: Abdollah
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Omidi
keywords: Anxiety disorder; behavior therapy; quality of life; relaxation
references.citation: Med Care. 1996 Mar;34(3):220-33
references.pmid: 8628042
references.citation: Behav Ther. 2007 Mar;38(1):72-85
references.pmid: 17292696
references.citation: Behav Res Ther. 2010 Mar;48(3):238-45
references.pmid: 19962129
references.citation: Cogn Behav Ther. 2010;39(2):126-36
references.pmid: 19714542
references.citation: Depress Anxiety. 2007;24(5):342-9
references.pmid: 17091478
references.citation: J Public Health Med. 2001 Sep;23(3):187-94
references.pmid: 11585190
references.citation: Depress Anxiety. 2011 Feb;28(2):127-36
references.pmid: 21284065
references.citation: Explore (NY). 2009 Mar-Apr;5(2):104-9
references.pmid: 19272581
references.citation: Ann Behav Med. 2007 Feb;33(1):11-21
references.pmid: 17291166
references.citation: Annu Rev Psychol. 2001;52:685-716
references.pmid: 11148322
references.citation: Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2003 Aug 1;28(15):1739-45
references.pmid: 12897502
references.citation: J Consult Clin Psychol. 2008 Dec;76(6):1083-9
references.pmid: 19045976
references.citation: Psychosom Med. 2003 Jul-Aug;65(4):571-81
references.pmid: 12883107
references.citation: J Clin Epidemiol. 2010 Sep;63(9):1020-9
references.pmid: 20189764
references.citation: Behav Ther. 2010 Mar;41(1):46-58
references.pmid: 20171327
references.citation: Int J Rehabil Res. 2004 Jun;27(2):151-4
references.pmid: 15167114
references.citation: Am J Psychiatry. 1994 Sep;151(9):1272-80
references.pmid: 8067480