Development and Initial Validation of a Brief Questionnaire on the Patients’ View of the In-Session Realization of the Six Core Components of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

Authors

  • Thomas Probst Orcid
    Department for Psychotherapy and Biopsychosocial Health, Danube University Krems, Krems, Austria
  • Andreas Mühlberger
    Department of Psychology, Regensburg University, Regensburg, Germany
  • Johannes Kühner
    Practice for Psychotherapy, Würzburg, Germany
  • Georg H. Eifert
    Department of Psychology, Chapman University, Orange, CA, USA
  • Christoph Pieh
    Department for Psychotherapy and Biopsychosocial Health, Danube University Krems, Krems, Austria
  • Timo Hackbarth
    Department of Psychology, Regensburg University, Regensburg, Germany
  • Johannes Mander
    Center for Psychological Psychotherapy, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany

Abstract

Background: Assessing in-session processes is important in psychotherapy research. The aim of the present study was to create and evaluate a short questionnaire capturing the patients’ view of the in-session realization of the six core components of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).
Method: In two studies, psychotherapy patients receiving ACT (Study 1: n = 87) or Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) (Study 2, Sample 1: n = 115; Sample 2: n = 156) completed the ACT session questionnaire (ACT-SQ). Therapists were n = 9 ACT therapists (Study 1) and n = 77 CBT trainee therapists (Study 2).
Results: Factor structure: Exploratory factor analyses suggested a one-factor solution for the ACT-SQ. Reliability: Cronbach’s alpha of the ACT-SQ was good (Study 1: α = .81; Study 2, Sample 1: α = .84; Sample 2: α = .88). Convergent validity: The ACT-SQ was positively correlated with validated psychotherapeutic change mechanisms (p < .05). Criterion validity: Higher ACT-SQ scores were associated with better treatment outcomes (p < .05).
Conclusion: The study provides preliminary evidence for the reliability and validity of the ACT-SQ to assess the in-session realization of the six core components of ACT in the patients’ view. Further validation studies and ACT-SQ versions for therapists and observers are necessary.