Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy on self-care, psychological symptoms, and quality of life in patients with cardiovascular disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Effectiveness of a videoconferencing group-based dyad acceptance and commitment therapy on the quality of life of chronic heart failure patients and their family caregivers: A study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

“…Development of the ACT-based intervention . The first version of the ACT intervention protocol was informed by the ACT classic therapist manual [ 53 , 75 – 77 ] and by literature on the experiences of CHF patients and FCs [ 78 , 79 ], previous ACT trials with CVD [ 56 ] and FCs [ 57 ], and an ACT intervention at the dyadic level [ 58 , 59 ]. The intervention protocol (Version 1) was initially evaluated in a four-week uncontrolled clinical trial using an in-person format ( N = 7).…”

“…Through ACT, individuals are guided to accept and embrace their feelings, enabling them to detach themselves from the specific content of their thoughts by fostering mindful awareness of the thinking process, and encouraging them to align their actions with their personal values [ 53 ]. ACT has demonstrated effectiveness in reducing anxiety and depressive symptoms and in improving the self-care and QOL of patients with cardiovascular diseases (CVD) [ 56 ] and FCs [ 57 ]. However, it is worth noting that a significant percentage of existing studies on ACT primarily focus exclusively on either patients or FCs.…”

Effects of a brief intervention based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy versus usual care for cardiac rehabilitation patients with coronary heart disease (ACTonHEART): a randomised controlled trial

“…10 11 Recent meta-analyses and reviews have indicated that interventions based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) are associated with improvements in quality of life, health behaviours, depression and anxiety among cardiac patients. 12 13 ACT is a third-wave cognitive-behavioural therapy. In ACT, physical and psychological pain is considered a normal and unavoidable part of human existence and efforts to stop or reduce it can lead to suffering.…”

“…As such, individuals may avoid stressful situations to suppress those unwanted internal experiences. Among cardiac patients, experiential avoidance may manifest in maladaptive behaviours such as unhealthy eating, sedentariness or continued nicotine use, 12 and has been associated with less improvement in measures of well-being after CR among patients with moderate-to-severe psychological distress. 17 To develop and maintain a heart-healthy lifestyle, individuals must be willing to tolerate temporary discomforts and dissatisfaction, such as the physical discomfort of exercising, dissatisfaction with low-fat and low-sodium foods, or cravings for nicotine.…”

“…14 18 19 A recent systematic review showed that ACT may be effective in improving selfcare ability and quality of life in patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD). 12 Thus far, no study has investigated the efficacy of ACT on the simultaneous modification of biological indicators of risk and psychological well-being in CR patients.…”