Compared to the control group  (treatment as usual or TAU), the ACT+TAU group showed a decrease in the believability of their symptoms during the 4 month follow-up.  The rapid decrease in believability can be due to the cognitive defusion of the delusional beliefs and hallucinations. 

Believability of Schizophrenic Symptoms with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

Participants were twice as likely to end up hospitalized in the TAU(treatment as Usual) group than the ACT+TAU group. The ACT+TAU group also stayed an average 22 days less than the TAU group. 

Re-hospitalization decreases with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) can increase the reporting of positive symptoms in psychotic patients compared to control groups. Rather than indicating an actual increase in symptom occurrence—which is difficult to test due to changes in the believability of symptoms—this increase in reporting likely occurs because ACT makes patients more aware of and accepting of their symptoms, enabling them to openly acknowledge them.

Effect of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy on Positive Symptom Reporting

ACT hopes to decrease the occurrence of positive symptoms and the believability of these symptoms so it leads to less dysfunctional behavior, which could lead to reduced re-hospitalization rates. 

Wake Forest University

ACT can be used to help psychotic patients accept hallucinations and delusions that are being suppressed and avoided rather than recognized. 

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Used with Psychotic Patients

Bach P, Hayes SC. The use of acceptance and commitment therapy to prevent the rehospitalization of psychotic patients: a randomized controlled trial. J Consult Clin Psychol. 2002 Oct;70(5):1129-39. doi: 10.1037//0022-006x.70.5.1129. PMID: 12362963.

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