title: ACT Internet-based vs face-to-face? A randomized controlled trial of two ways to deliver Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for depressive symptoms: an 18-month follow-up.
abstract: The aim of the present study was to investigate two interventions based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for depressive symptoms: A face-to-face treatment (ACT group) was compared to a guided self-help treatment delivered via the Internet consisting of two assessment sessions (pre and post) and an ACT-based Internet program (iACT). Outpatients experiencing at least mild depressive symptoms were randomized to either approach. The iACT treatment group received access to an ACT-based Internet program and supportive web-based contact over a period of 6 weeks. The face-to-face group received ACT-based treatment once a week over the same period of time. In both groups, the results showed a significant effect on depression symptomatology, and general wellbeing after treatment and at the 18-month follow-up. However, the data indicated that the iACT group changed differently regarding depressive symptoms and wellbeing as compared to the face-to face ACT group. Results showed large pre-treatment to 18-month follow-up within-group effect sizes for all symptom measures in the iACT treatment group (1.59-2.08), and for most outcome measures in the face-to-face ACT group (1.12-1.37). This non-inferiority study provides evidence that guided Internet-delivered ACT intervention can be as effective as ACT-based face-to-face treatment for outpatients reporting depressive symptoms, and it may offer some advantages over a face-to-face intervention.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Jyväskylä, P. O. Box 35, FIN-40014, Finland. Electronic address: paivi.k.lappalainen@jyu.fi.
authors.forename: Päivi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lappalainen
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Jyväskylä, P. O. Box 35, FIN-40014, Finland.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Granlund
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Jyväskylä, P. O. Box 35, FIN-40014, Finland.
authors.forename: Sari
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Siltanen
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Jyväskylä, P. O. Box 35, FIN-40014, Finland.
authors.forename: Suvi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ahonen
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Jyväskylä, P. O. Box 35, FIN-40014, Finland.
authors.forename: Minna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vitikainen
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Jyväskylä, P. O. Box 35, FIN-40014, Finland.
authors.forename: Asko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tolvanen
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Jyväskylä, P. O. Box 35, FIN-40014, Finland.
authors.forename: Raimo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lappalainen
mesh_terms: D064869:Acceptance and Commitment Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D000328:Adult; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019114:Remote Consultation; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy; Depressive symptoms; Face-to-face treatment; Internet treatment