Effectiveness of acceptance and commitment (ACT) therapy on behavioral inhibition and cognitive-behavioral avoidance of women with generalized anxiety disorder

  Many people with generalized anxiety disorder have emotional schemas that are experiencing negative thoughts such as rumination, inhibition, cognitive avoidance of excitement and persistence of anxiety. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of acceptance and commitment therapy on behavioral inhibition and cognitive behavioral avoidance in women with generalized anxiety disorder.

This study was a quasi-experimental design with pretest design of post-test and control group. The statistical population of this study was all women with generalized anxiety disorder referring to counseling and psychology services centers in district 4 in Tehran during the period of December 2017 to May 2018, which included 32 people with generalized anxiety disorder who referred to the above centers The goal-based sampling method was selected and tested in two groups of 16 people. Data were collected by using behavioral inhibition and cognitive-behavioral avoidance measures questionnaire and analyzed by SPSS v.22 analysis using multivariate covariance analysis (MANCOVA). The results of data analysis showed that acceptance and commitment therapy had a significant effect on behavioral inhibition and cognitive-behavioral avoidance components of women with general anxiety disorder in the experimental group compared to the control group (P <0.001). The results of this study clearly demonstrated the effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy on reducing behavioral inhibition and cognitive behavioral avoidance in women with generalized anxiety disorder. According to these findings, the use of this inexpensive, simple and practical treatment can provide a basis for promoting psychological well-being, adjustment of excitement and proper function in interpersonal relationships.