title: A randomized controlled trial of acceptance and commitment therapy for aggressive behavior.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of the current research was to test the efficacy of a group-based Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) intervention for partner aggression, compared with a support and discussion control group, in a clinical sample of adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred one participants (mean age = 31; 68% female; 18% minority) who endorsed recently engaging in at least 2 acts of partner aggression were randomly assigned to receive ACT or a support-and-discussion control condition. Both interventions consisted of 12 weekly 2-hr sessions. Assessments at pretreatment, during treatment, posttreatment, and 3 and 6 months after treatment measured psychological aggression (Multidimensional Measure Emotional Abuse Scale [MMEA]), physical aggression (Conflict Tactics Scales [CTS-2]), experiential avoidance (Avoidance and Action Questionnaire [AAQ]), and emotion dysregulation (Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale [DERS]).
  
  
  RESULTS
  RESULTS of growth curve modeling analyses demonstrated that participants in the ACT group had significantly greater declines in psychological and physical aggression from pre- to posttreatment and from pretreatment to follow-up and that 6-month treatment outcomes were partially mediated by levels of experiential avoidance and emotion dysregulation at posttreatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this first trial of ACT for aggressive behavior indicate that the ACT group significantly reduced both physical and psychological aggression and that these changes were significantly greater than those of the control group, suggesting that an ACT approach to aggression may serve as an efficacious treatment for aggression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, The University of Iowa.
authors.forename: Amie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zarling
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, The University of Iowa.
authors.forename: Erika
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lawrence
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, The University of Iowa.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Marchman
mesh_terms: D064869:Acceptance and Commitment Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D000066511:Intimate Partner Violence / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group / Q000379:methods*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult