Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Destructive Experiential Avoidance (ACT-DEA): A Feasibility Study

Euihyeon Na (), KangUk Lee, Bong-Hee Jeon, Cheolrae Jo, Uk-Hwan Kwak, Yujin Jeon, Kyojin Yang, Eui Jin Lee and Jin Jeong
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Euihyeon Na: Department of Neuropsychiatry, Presbyterian Medical Center, Jeonju 54987, Republic of Korea
KangUk Lee: Department of Psychiatry, Kangwon National University Hospital, Chuncheon 24289, Republic of Korea
Bong-Hee Jeon: Mind with Mind Psychiatric Clinic, Changwon 51436, Republic of Korea
Cheolrae Jo: Maum Gonggam Psychiatric Clinic, Goyang 10497, Republic of Korea
Uk-Hwan Kwak: Mind with Mind Psychiatric Clinic, Changwon 51436, Republic of Korea
Yujin Jeon: Workplace Mental Health Institute, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Seoul 03181, Republic of Korea
Kyojin Yang: Department of Psychiatry, Kangwon National University Hospital, Chuncheon 24289, Republic of Korea
Eui Jin Lee: Department of Psychiatry, Kangwon National University Hospital, Chuncheon 24289, Republic of Korea
Jin Jeong: Jeong Jin Psychiatric Clinic, Suwon 16489, Republic of Korea

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 24, 1-11

Abstract: Background: This study is a preliminary study on an acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) program that mitigates destructive experiential avoidance (DEA) behaviors, including self-harm behavior and addiction; Methods: Twenty participants aged 15–25 years who had confirmed DEA behavior within the last month participated in a total of six sessions of ACT. Demographic characteristics, history of psychiatric illness, and TYPES and patterns of DEA behavior were confirmed in the baseline survey. The severity of clinical symptoms, frequency of DEA behavior and impulsivity, characteristics of experiential avoidance (EA) behavior, depression, and quality of life (QOL) were measured before and after the program for comparative statistical tests using the intention-to-treat method. Furthermore, the severity of clinical symptoms was evaluated after each program, along with the frequency of DEA behavior and trends in impulsivity, which were investigated based on the behavior log; Results: After the ACT program, both the frequency of DEA behavior and impulsivity and the severity of clinical symptoms, depression, and anxiety decreased significantly. Furthermore, among the EA characteristics, pain aversion, distraction and inhibition, and delayed behavior significantly improved. Moreover, the overall QOL, psychological and social relationships, and QOL regarding the environment also improved; Conclusions: The results of this feasibility study demonstrate the potential of the ACT program as an effective intervention in DEA behavior. The results of this study may be used as preliminary data for future large-scale randomized studies.

Keywords: acceptance and commitment therapy; destructive experiential avoidance; deliberate self-harm; alcohol use disorder; behavioral addiction; adolescents (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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