A comparison between Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
Luca Calzolari, Giulia Fioravanti
During the last decade a considerable number of studies have been conducted showing that
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy is an effective treatment for a wide range of psychological
disorders. However, the debate about the empirical status of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
and its different characteristics compared to Cognitive Behavioural Therapy remains controversial
and open. This study aims to shed some light on the issue by conducting a systematic review of the
studies that have compared Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.
Fifteen studies were identified using the databases PubMed and Scopus in November 2014. Studies
were included in the review if they compared individual treatments focused on mood and anxiety
disorders. The two treatments were equivalently effective at post-treatment according to measures of
symptoms and global functioning. Some differences emerged in long-term outcomes. Studies that have
investigated mediating mechanisms have produced mixed results. Whereas some studies have found
evidence that Acceptance and Commitment Therapy works using different processes from Cognitive
Behavioural Therapy, other studies have showed that the two treatments shared similar mechanisms of
action.
Keywords
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy,
Systematic review, Efficacy, Mediational processes.
