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Few studies have explored the experiences of family caregivers of persons living with dementia (PLWD) in acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). This study aimed for in-depth exploration on experiences of family caregivers of PLWD in ACT. Individual interviews were conducted with eight family caregivers of PLWD who were women and participated in an eight-week video conferencing ACT program. Data were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Two overarching themes emerged, including improved strategies in responding to emotions and thoughts in challenging caregiving situations and taking better care of myself. Participants perceived that ACT skills training improved their coping strategies and, subsequently, their daily emotions and relationship with their relatives with dementia. Participants also perceived ACT strategies and exercises as helpful and applicable resources for daily use in challenging caregiving situations. In addition, ACT helped participants feel comfortable taking the time to take care of themselves without feeling guilty and acknowledge that they must take care of themselves first to take better care of their relatives with dementia. These changes helped caregivers increase their participation in valued activities. This study contributes to the literature by exploring experiences of family caregivers of PLWD in ACT, including its perceived benefits on themselves. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT04847986 () What is already known about this topic: Adverse mental health outcomes in family caregivers of persons living with dementia (PLWD) can result from caregivers' difficulties in accepting challenges and emotions and the lack of strategies for managing their own emotions and balancing care demands with other important aspects of life. Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is an evidence-based practice that can promote mental health and engagement in personally valued activities through acceptance and mindfulness processes and behaviour change processes for valued living. There have been only two studies that involved a qualitative approach to explore the experiences of family caregivers of PLWD in ACT. These feasibility studies found that contents covered and the online delivery formats for ACT were acceptable to family caregivers of PLWD. What this topic adds: The present study contributes to the literature with in-depth exploration on experiences of family caregivers of PLWD in ACT with thick descriptions, including the benefits of ACT from the perspectives of family caregivers of PLWD. ACT helped family caregivers of PLWD improve strategies for responding to their emotions and thoughts that arise from challenging caregiving situations. Caregivers also perceived ACT as helpful and applicable for daily use in challenging caregiving situations. ACT helped these caregivers feel comfortable taking the time they needed to take care of themselves without feeling guilty and acknowledge that they must take care of themselves first to take better care of their relatives with dementia; these changes helped caregivers increase their participation in valued activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to examine the effects of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) on depressive symptoms, anxiety, pain intensity, quality of life, acceptance, and functional impairment in individuals with neurological disorders. A comprehensive search was conducted within four databases to identify relevant randomised controlled trials (RCTs). The quality of the included RCTs was assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration risk of bias tool. Either a random effects model or fixed effects model was used. Subgroup analyses were conducted according to the types of control groups. Twenty-four RCTs met the eligibility criteria. This meta-analysis found that ACT had medium-to-large effects in the immediate post-test and follow-up on reducing depressive symptoms, anxiety, pain intensity, and perceived functional impairment and improving quality of life and acceptance in individuals with neurological disorders. The overall risk of bias was unclear. Relatively fewer studies were conducted to compare the effects of ACT to active control groups compared to studies involving passive control conditions. Future high-quality studies that compare ACT to active control conditions in individuals with neurological disorders are needed to determine whether practitioners should be routinely providing ACT for this population instead of other evidence-based treatments. What is already known about this topic: Living with a neurological disorder can have a significant negative impact on an individual's mental health and quality of life and restrict participation in personally valued activities and roles. A growing body of literature suggests that mindfulness and acceptance may help individuals better adjust to living with a neurological disorder, decrease psychological and physical symptoms (e.g., depression, anxiety, and pain intensity) and increase quality of life among individuals with neurological disorders. Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is an empirically supported transdiagnostic approach that involves mindfulness and acceptance processes and behaviour change processes for valued living, and a growing body of research has found beneficial effects of ACT in individuals with neurological disorders. What this topic adds: This was the first systematic review incorporating meta-analysis to measure the effects of ACT on outcomes in individuals with neurological disorders, including depressive symptoms, anxiety, pain intensity, quality of life, acceptance, and functional impairment. This meta-analysis found medium-to-large effects of ACT on reducing depression, anxiety, pain intensity, and perceived functional impairment and improving quality of life and acceptance in individuals with neurological disorders at the immediate post-test and follow-up. ACT can be provided for individuals with neurological disorders based on professional judgement and client preferences, but future high-quality studies are needed to better understand whether the ACT is comparable or superior to other evidence-based treatments in varied outcomes of individuals with neurological disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) examined preliminary effects of an 8-week videoconferencing acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) program supplemented with psychoeducation materials on distressed family caregivers of persons living with dementia (PLWD) compared to the control group provided with psychoeducation materials only. Nineteen family caregivers of PLWD in the USA were randomly assigned to the ACT group or the control group. Data was collected at pretest, posttest, and 1-month follow-up (F/U). Compared to the control group, the ACT group showed a significantly larger reduction in grief at posttest, with a medium effect size. Small effects of ACT were found in anxiety, psychological quality of life, and engagement in meaningful activities at posttest and grief, engagement in meaningful activities, and psychological flexibility at F/U compared to the control group. These promising findings warrant a full-scale RCT with adequate power to measure the efficacy of videoconferencing ACT for caregivers of PLWD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined effects of coach-guided videoconferencing acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) accompanied by psychoeducation on distressed individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) and explored participants' experiences in the intervention. Ten people with SCI participated in 8 individual videoconferencing sessions delivered by trained coaches. Data using self-reported questionnaires and individual interviews was collected at pretest and posttest and analyzing using Wilcoxon signed-rank tests and interpretative phenomenological analysis (ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT04670406). Statistically significant improvements were found in depression, anxiety, stress, grief, engagement in meaningful activities, and self-compassion with medium to large effect sizes. There was no significant change in quality of life, resilience, and ACT processes. Participants gained a new way of thinking by: being aware of thoughts and emotions; exploring perceptions of others; and focusing on the present. Also, the intervention equipped participants to deal with challenges by: improving coping with SCI-related conditions; practicing self-compassion, acceptance, and meditation; and acquiring skills of value-based decision making and committed action. Findings contribute to the limited evidence as the first study that measured effects of videoconferencing ACT on people with SCI. Future randomized controlled trials are needed to measure efficacy of internet-delivered ACT for people with SCI. Guided videoconferencing ACT may reduce depressive symptoms, anxiety, stress, and grief and increase engagement in meaningful activities and self-compassion in people with SCI. Professionals may consider ACT as a supportive or adjunct service for people with SCI who experience psychological distress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mindfulness- and acceptance-based intervention (MABI) is an emerging evidence-based practice, but no systematic review incorporating meta-analyses for MABIs in stroke survivors has been conducted. The objective of this systematic review was to measure the effectiveness of MABIs on outcomes for people with stroke. Three electronic databases, PubMed, CINAHL, and PsycINFO, were searched to identify relevant studies published in peer-reviewed journals. The methodological quality of the included studies was assessed. Data were extracted and combined in a meta-analysis with a random-effect model to compute the size of the intervention effect. A total of 11 studies met the eligibility criteria. Meta-analyses found a small-to-moderate effect of MABIs on depressive symptoms (standardized mean difference [SMD] = 0.39, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [0.12, 0.66]) and a large effect on mental fatigue (SMD = 1.22, 95% CI = [0.57, 1.87]). No statistically significant effect of MABIs on anxiety, quality of life, and mindfulness was found, but there was a trend in favor of MABIs overall. This meta-analysis found positive effects of MABIs on depressive symptoms and mental fatigue in stroke survivors, but future high-quality studies are needed to guarantee treatment effects of MABIs on varied outcomes in stroke survivors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) examined effects of mindfulness- and acceptance-based interventions (MABIs) on quality of life (QoL), coping, cognition, and mindfulness among people with multiple sclerosis (MS). Four electronic databases were searched to 3 July 2020. Data was combined in a random-effects meta-analysis model. Eighteen RCTs met the eligibility criteria. Meta-analyses at the immediate posttest found: moderate effects of MABIs on QoL, coping, and attention; and a large effect on memory. A large effect of MABIs on QoL was found at follow-up. There was no significant effect of MABIs on mindfulness. Relatively fewer studies in outcomes other than QoL were found, and the overall risk of bias across the included 18 RCTs was unclear. Future high-quality studies with follow-up evaluations are needed to support effects of MABIs on QoL, coping, cognition, and mindfulness in people with MS and examine intervention features that increase and maintain effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the effects of a guided online acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) intervention on distressed family caregivers of persons living with dementia and explored the experiences of these caregivers in the ACT intervention. Seven family caregivers experiencing psychological distress individually participated in 10 ACT videoconference sessions guided by a trained coach. Quantitative data, such as psychological distress, burden, and ACT processes, were collected at pretest and posttest and analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Individual interviews were conducted at posttest and analyzed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Statistically significant reductions were found in depressive symptoms, anxiety, stress, and burden (p <.05) with medium effect sizes. ACT sessions helped caregivers gain renewed strength by: being equipped with resources to use under distress throughout the caregiving journey; being more self-compassionate and taking care of one's self; and being more patient with relatives with dementia. Findings contribute to the limited evidence in guided online ACT for caregivers of persons living with dementia. Further studies with a larger sample size are needed to evaluate the efficacy of guided online ACT. Guided online ACT may reduce depressive symptoms, anxiety, stress, and burden of family caregivers of persons living with dementia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Date Presented 03/22/24 This session will present findings of a preliminary mixed-methods study for videoconferencing acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) accompanied by psychoeducation in distressed people with spinal cord injury (SCI). Promising findings warrant full-scale trials. Primary Author and Speaker: Areum Han Contributing Authors: Hon Yuen, Jereme Wilroy, Jeremy Jenkins [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Date Presented 03/21/24 This session will present findings of the first study to explore lived experiences of family caregivers of people with dementia in acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). Perceived benefits in ACT warrant more studies for diverse caregivers. Primary Author and Speaker: Areum Han Contributing Authors: Hon Yuen, Jeremy Jenkins [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Date Presented 03/21/24 This session will present procedures and findings of a pilot randomized controlled trial of videoconferencing acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) for distressed family caregivers of people with dementia. Promising findings warrant a full-scale trial. Primary Author and Speaker: Areum Han Contributing Authors: Hon Yuen, Jeremy Jenkins, Lauren Edwards [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acceptance and commitment therapy is an emerging evidenced-based practice, but no systematic review regarding the effects of ACT on family caregivers has been conducted. This article examined the effects of ACT on family caregivers by conducting meta-analysis with a random effects model. Twenty-four articles were identified from four electronic databases searched up to 30 March 2020. Meta-analyses found moderate effects of ACT on depressive symptoms and quality of life, small effects on anxiety, and small to moderate effects on stress. Further ACT studies should be conducted to measure effects on different outcomes for various family caregiver populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]