One-Day Acceptance and Commitment Training Workshops in Medical Populations.

Abstract

Chronic medical illnesses often require a high level of self-management, which can be challenging, particularly over extended periods. The challenge is accentuated by comorbid depression or anxiety, which interfere with motivation and drive. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy is an empirically based behavioral intervention aimed at helping individuals develop greater psychological flexibility in the face of life's challenges. It provides a unified model of behavior change and has shown promise in treating depression and anxiety, as well as chronic medical conditions. Importantly, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy has been effectively implemented in various formats, including 1-day group workshops, well-suited for dissemination into medical settings. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of studies of 1-day group workshops in medical populations and suggest future directions for further development of this promising area.