title: The efficacy of Focused Acceptance and Commitment Therapy in VA primary care.
abstract: Focused Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (FACT) is a brief intervention based on traditional Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Although there is a growing body of research on the efficacy of ACT for a variety of populations and disorders, there is little research to date on the use of FACT in group settings. This project is 1 of the first of its kind, as it examines data on psychological flexibility, health and mental health status, and symptom reduction from a 4-week FACT group. Participants in this study were 51 patients who attended this group as part of routine clinical care in a VA integrated primary care and mental health setting. They completed pre- and posttreatment measures of well-being, depression, anxiety, stress, psychological flexibility, and perceptions of physical and mental health functioning. Pre- to posttreatment analyses of variance demonstrated large effects for quality of life, F(1, 51) = 21.29, p < .001, η2 = 0.30, moderate effects for depressive symptoms, F(1, 51) = 11.47, p < .001, η2 = 0.08, and perceptions of mental health functioning (MCS scale), F(1, 51) = 9.67, p = .003, η2 = 0.11, and small effects for perceptions of perceived stress, F(1, 51) = 4.08, p = .04, η2 = 0.03, and physical health functioning (PCS scale), F(1, 51) = 6.60, p = .01, η2 = 0.08. There was a statistical trend for reductions in anxiety, F(1, 51) = 3.29, p = .07, η2 = 0.01, and a nonsignificant effect for psychological flexibility, F(1, 51) = 2.05, p = .16, η2 = 0.04. These data provide initial support for the implementation of a group-based FACT protocol within a VA primary care setting and help to lay a foundation for further, more controlled studies on Group FACT in future research. (PsycINFO Database Record
authors.affiliation: VA Puget Sound Health Care System.
authors.forename: Natalie G
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-3635-9176
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Glover
authors.affiliation: VA Puget Sound Health Care System.
authors.forename: Patrick D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Sylvers
authors.affiliation: VA Puget Sound Health Care System.
authors.forename: Erika M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Shearer
authors.affiliation: VA Puget Sound Health Care System.
authors.forename: Mary-Catherine
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Kane
authors.affiliation: Stanford University School of Medicine.
authors.forename: Peter C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Clasen
authors.affiliation: VA Puget Sound Health Care System.
authors.forename: Amee J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Epler
authors.affiliation: VA Puget Sound Health Care System.
authors.forename: Jennifer C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Plumb-Vilardaga
authors.affiliation: VA Sierra Nevada Health Care System.
authors.forename: Jordan T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Bonow
authors.affiliation: VA Puget Sound Health Care System.
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jakupcak
mesh_terms: D064869:Acceptance and Commitment Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000628:therapy*; D019033:Delivery of Health Care, Integrated; D003863:Depression / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011320:Primary Health Care; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group / Q000379:methods*; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000628:therapy*; D014481:United States; D014493:United States Department of Veterans Affairs