title: The feasibility and acceptability of a brief Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) group intervention for people with psychosis: The 'ACT for life' study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a contextual cognitive-behavioural approach with a developing evidence base for clinical and cost-effectiveness as an individually-delivered intervention to promote recovery from psychosis. ACT also lends itself to brief group delivery, potentially increasing access to therapy without inflating costs. This study examined, for the first time, the feasibility and acceptability of ACT groups for people with psychosis (G-ACTp).
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were recruited from community psychosis teams. Ratings of user satisfaction, and pre-post change in self-rated functioning (primary outcome), mood (secondary outcome) and ACT processes were all completed with an independent assessor. Of 89 people recruited, 83 completed pre measures, 69 started the four-week G-ACTp intervention, and 65 completed post measures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Independently assessed acceptability and satisfaction were high. Functioning (Coeff. = -2.4, z = -2.9, p = 0.004; 95% CI: -4.0 to -0.8; within subject effect size (ES) d = 0.4) and mood (Coeff. = -2.3, z = -3.5, p = 0.001; 95% CI: -3.5 to -1.0; d = 0.4) improved from baseline to follow-up. Commensurate changes in targeted ACT processes were consistent with the underlying model.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The uncontrolled, pre-post design precluded blinded assessments, and may have inflated effect sizes. Participants may have improved as a result of other factors, and findings require replication in a randomized controlled trial (RCT).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This preliminary study showed that brief group ACT interventions for people with psychosis are feasible and acceptable. Uncontrolled, pre-post assessments suggest small clinical improvements, and changes in psychological processes consistent with an ACT model. Replication in an RCT is required, before implementation can be recommended.
authors.affiliation: South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK; King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, London, UK. Electronic address: louise.johns@kcl.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Louise C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Johns
authors.affiliation: King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, London, UK; Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
authors.forename: Joseph E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Oliver
authors.affiliation: King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, Department of Biostatistics, London, UK; Department of Applied Health Research, University College London, UK.
authors.forename: Mizanur
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Khondoker
authors.affiliation: King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, Department of Psychosis Studies, London, UK.
authors.forename: Majella
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Byrne
authors.affiliation: King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, London, UK.
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jolley
authors.affiliation: King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, London, UK; NIHR Biomedical Research Centre for Mental Health at the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
authors.forename: Til
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wykes
authors.affiliation: King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, London, UK.
authors.forename: Candice
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Joseph
authors.affiliation: King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, London, UK.
authors.forename: Lucy
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Butler
authors.affiliation: South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK; King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, Health Service and Population Research Department, London, UK.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Craig
authors.affiliation: King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, London, UK; La Trobe University, School of Psychological Science and Public Health, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Eric M J
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Morris
mesh_terms: D064869:Acceptance and Commitment Therapy; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011614:Psychotherapy, Brief; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Cognitive therapy; Community mental health; Contextual behavioral science; Early psychosis; Mindfulness; Schizophrenia