Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy on Psychosomatic Symptoms and Mindfulness in Patients With Psychosomatic Disorders

Objective: The current research investigated the effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) on psychosomatic symptoms and mindfulness in patients with psychosomatic disorders. Methods: A randomized clinical trial was conducted at Kashan University of Medical Sciences clinics in Kashan City, Iran, from December 1, 2017, to March 30, 2018. In total, 66 patients with psychosomatic disorders were selected by purposive sampling method. The selected patients were divided into three groups (each 22 samples which were selected randomly). The subjects had a medical record at Kashan Beheshti Hospital. The experimental group received ACT with medicinal treatment. The first control group received psychological interventions and the second control group received medicinal treatment without any psychological interventions. The results were obtained using the Freiburg Mindfulness Inventory (FMI)-short Form and Diagnostic Criteria for Psychosomatic Research in the Pre-test and Post-Test phases and the three-month follow-up. Results: In the follow-up and Post-Test phases, mindfulness improved in the intervention group, compared to the active and neutral control groups (P<0.001). Moreover, the active control group demonstrated more ability to mindfulness than the neutral control group (P<0.001). Furthermore, the obtained results were similar for psychosomatic symptoms. Conclusion: ACT can improve psychosomatic symptoms and mindfulness level in patients with psychosomatic disorders.