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Negative self-referential thoughts are posited to be involved in a range of psychological disorders ranging from depression and anxiety to disorganized eating. While the Cognitive Behavioural Therapy technique known as cognitive restructuring has most frequently been used as an intervention for such thoughts, defusion from Acceptance and Commitment (ACT) has been demonstrated to significantly reduced believability, discomfort with, and negativity of thoughts while increasing willingness to have such thoughts. Research has demonstrated the effectiveness of computerized CBT and ACT while research on the delivery of CBT via automated conversational agents (chatbots) has suggested the preliminary effectiveness of such interventions in reducing depression and anxiety symptoms. The present research intends to compare chatbot-delivered defusion relative to chatbot delivered cognitive restructuring and a non-active control. It is hypothesized that both active interventions will be effective but that the defusion chatbot will be see greater reductions in discomfort, negativity, and believability of negative thoughts and greater increases in willingness than cognitive restructuring.

Despite evidence of a link between elevated stress and disease activity in Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), few patients receive psychological interventions to reduce stress. However, brief telehealth interventions may be one avenue to address this treatment need. The current study employs a randomized multiple baseline design to analyze the effect of a two-session telehealth acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) protocol (supplemented by an ACT workbook and phonecall follow up) in the treatment of stress in patients with an IBD diagnosis.