A four-session acceptance and commitment therapy based intervention for depressive symptoms delivered by masters degree level psychology students: a preliminary study.
BACKGROUND
Depressive symptoms are one of the main reasons for seeking psychological help. Shorter interventions using briefly trained therapists could offer a solution to the ever-rising need for early and easily applicable psychological treatments.


OBJECTIVE
The current study examines the effectiveness of a four-session Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) based treatment for self-reported depressive symptoms administered by Masters level psychology students.


METHODS
This paper reports the effectiveness of a brief intervention compared to a waiting list control (WLC) group. Participants were randomized into two groups: ACT (n = 28) and waiting list (n = 29). Long-term effects were examined using a 6-month follow-up.


RESULTS
The treatment group's level of depressive symptoms (Beck Depression Inventory) decreased by an average of 47%, compared to an average decrease of 4% in the WLC group. Changes in psychological well-being in the ACT group were better throughout, and treatment outcomes were maintained after 6 months. The posttreatment "between-group" and follow-up "with-in group" effect sizes (Cohen's d) were large to medium for depressive symptoms and psychological flexibility.


CONCLUSIONS
The results support the brief ACT-based intervention for sub-clinical depressive symptoms when treatment was conducted by briefly trained psychology students. It also contributes to the growing body of evidence on brief ACT-based treatments and inexperienced therapists.
University of Jyväskylä,Finland.
Aino
A
Kohtala
University of Jyväskylä,Finland.
Raimo
R
Lappalainen
University of Jyväskylä,Finland.
Laura
L
Savonen
University of Jyväskylä,Finland.
Elina
E
Timo
University of Jyväskylä,Finland.
Asko
A
Tolvanen
D064869:Acceptance and Commitment Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003863:Depression / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011584:Psychology / Q000193:education*; D013334:Students; D016896:Treatment Outcome
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