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Efficacy and acceptability of mobile application-delivered acceptance and commitment therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder in China: A randomized controlled trial.

Behaviour research and therapy
December 1, 2023
Chunxiao Zhao et al. (8 authors)
Randomized Controlled TrialJournal ArticleResearch Support, Non-U.S. Gov'tHuman StudyClinical
Study Details

Study Goal

The researchers aimed to assess the efficacy and acceptability of app-delivered mindfulness (MI) in reducing PTSD symptoms compared to ACT and a waitlist control.

Results Summary

The MI group showed significant improvements in mental health outcomes compared to the waitlist group, with no significant differences from ACT except in psychological flexibility (where ACT was superior). Drop-out rates were higher in the MI group (39.71%) than in the ACT group (25.76%).

Population

221 Chinese individuals with elevated PTSD symptoms.

Effective Dosage

Not specified

Duration

Not specified

Interactions

None mentioned

Extracted Claims (11)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
app-delivered Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
increase
mental health outcomes
Chinese individuals with elevated PTSD symptoms
-
significantly greater improvements
#1
app-delivered mindfulness (MI)
increase
mental health outcomes
Chinese individuals with elevated PTSD symptoms
-
significantly greater improvements
#2
app-delivered Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
increase
psychological flexibility
Chinese individuals with elevated PTSD symptoms
d = -0.37
improved more
#3
app-delivered Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
decrease
PTSD symptoms
Chinese individuals with elevated PTSD symptoms
d = -0.79
showed a greater improvement
#4
app-delivered Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
decrease
anxiety
Chinese individuals with elevated PTSD symptoms
d = -0.62
showed a greater improvement
#5
app-delivered Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
decrease
depression
Chinese individuals with elevated PTSD symptoms
d = -0.51
showed a greater improvement
#6
app-delivered Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
increase
posttraumatic growth
Chinese individuals with elevated PTSD symptoms
d = 0.46
showed a greater improvement
#7
app-delivered Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
increase
psychological flexibility
Chinese individuals with elevated PTSD symptoms
d = 0.76
showed a greater improvement
#8
app-delivered Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
neutral
drop-out rates
Chinese individuals with elevated PTSD symptoms
25.76%
drop-out rates
#9
app-delivered mindfulness (MI)
neutral
drop-out rates
Chinese individuals with elevated PTSD symptoms
39.71%
drop-out rates
#10
app-delivered Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
neutral
program satisfaction
Chinese individuals with elevated PTSD symptoms
medium
reported medium program satisfaction
#11
Abstract

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and its extensive effects, the incidence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms is rapidly increasing in China. This research aimed to assess the efficacy and acceptability of a mobile application delivering Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) in reducing PTSD symptoms. 221 Chinese individuals with elevated PTSD symptoms were randomly assigned to app-delivered ACT (ACT condition), app-delivered mindfulness (MI condition), or a waitlist (WL condition). Assessments were performed pre- and post-intervention. The results showed that participants in both the ACT and MI groups had significantly greater improvements across mental health outcomes compared to the WL group. No significant differences were observed between the ACT and MI groups except for psychological flexibility, which improved more in ACT than MI (d = -0.37). Compared to WL, the ACT group showed a greater improvement in PTSD symptoms (d = -0.79), anxiety (d = -0.62), depression (d = -0.51), posttraumatic growth (d = 0.46), and psychological flexibility (d = 0.76). The drop-out rates in the ACT and MI were 25.76% and 39.71%, respectively. Participants in the ACT condition reported medium program satisfaction. The study suggests app-delivered ACT is efficacious in reducing PTSD symptoms and improving overall mental health among Chinese adults.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
AdultHumansStress Disorders, Post-TraumaticMobile ApplicationsAcceptance and Commitment TherapyPandemicsAnxiety
Study Links
Quality Scores
SafetyNot Assessed
Efficacy75/10
Quality85/10
Citation Metrics
Total Citations6
Citations/Year3.0
Relative Citation Ratio2.18
NIH Percentile77.1%
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.50
Weight Score2.82
Normalized Score0.67
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