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Article
A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Self-Guided Online Acceptance and Commitment Therapy as a Transdiagnostic Self-Help Intervention
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy
  • Korena S. Klimczak, Utah State University
  • Guadalupe G. San Miguel, Utah State University
  • Miriam N. Mukasa, Utah State Unviersity
  • Michael P. Twohig, Utah State University
  • Michael E. Levin, Utah State University
Document Type
Article
Publisher
Routledge
Publication Date
2-27-2023
Creative Commons License
Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0
Disciplines
Abstract

Online Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) interventions use websites and smartphone apps to deliver ACT exercises and skills. The present meta-analysis provides a comprehensive review of online ACT self-help interventions, characterizing the programs that have been studied (e.g. platform, length, content) and analyzing their efficacy. A transdiagnostic approach was taken, including studies that addressed a range of targeted problems and populations. Multi-level meta-analyses were used to nest multiple measures of a single construct within their respective studies. A total of 53 randomized controlled trials were included (n = 10,730). Online ACT produced significantly greater outcomes than waitlist controls at post-treatment for anxiety, depression, quality of life, psychological flexibility, and all assessed outcomes (i.e. omnibus effect), which were generally maintained at follow-up. However, only psychological flexibility and all assessed outcomes at post-treatment were found to be significantly greater for online ACT when compared to active controls, with no significant follow-up effects. Overall, these results further clarify that ACT can be effectively delivered in an online format to target a wide range of mental health concerns, although it is less clear if and when online ACT is more efficacious than other online interventions.

Author ORCID Identifier

Korena S. Klimczak https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2173-6431

Guadalupe G. San Miguel https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2875-4010

Miriam N. Mukasa https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8928-5289

Michael P. Twohig https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2936-5962

Michael E. Levin https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5562-2366

Citation Information
Korena S. Klimczak, Guadalupe G. San Miguel, Miriam N. Mukasa, Michael P. Twohig & Michael E. Levin (2023): A systematic review and meta-analysis of self-guided online acceptance and commitment therapy as a transdiagnostic self-help intervention, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, DOI: 10.1080/16506073.2023.2178498