Acceptance and Commitment Therapy in Cancer: Review of Applications and Findings

ABSTRACT

This study aimed to analyze published studies regarding the usefulness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy in the treatment of oncological patients. A systematic review of the literature was conducted using the Web of Science, Google Scholar and Dialnet (2000–2016). Nineteen articles fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Those patients who received interventions based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy showed a better emotional state and quality of life and greater psychological flexibility. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy proved to be useful in the psychological treatment of oncological patients. However, the heterogeneity and limitations of the studies, principally with regard to sample characteristics, study design and manner in which mechanisms responsible for changes are evaluated, make further studies necessary with a view to ascertaining what patient and/or intervention characteristics might improve results. Randomized controlled trials comparing the efficacy of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy with no treatment, with treatment with placebo and with other efficacious therapies, including a study of medium- and long-term results, would be of particular interest.

KEYWORDS:

• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
• cancer
• contextual therapies
• emotional distress
• psychological therapy

Acknowledgments

This study has been carried out thanks to the funding of the Ficyt (Ref. BP13141) and of the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness of the Spanish Government (Projects I+D+I. Ref. PSI2014-55594-P).

Additional information

Funding

Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness of the Spanish Government, PSI2014-55594-P, Foundation for the Promotion of Applied Scientific Research and Technology in Asturias, BP13141.