Effect of Acceptance and Commitment Group Therapy on Cognitive Flexibility, Suicidal Ideation, Depression, and Hopelessness in Conscripts

Abstract

Objectives The present study aims to investigate the effect of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) on cognitive flexibility, suicidal ideation, depression, and hopelessness in conscripts. Methods In this clinical trial with a pretest/posttest design using a control group, 60 conscripts were selected through a convenience sampling method from among those referred to military counseling centers in Khorasan Razavi Province of Iran in 2019, and were randomly assigned into intervention (n=30) and control (n=30) groups. The intervention group received ACT group therapy at eight weekly 90-min sessions, while the control group received no treatment. In the pretest and posttest phases, Cognitive Flexibility Inventory, Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation, Beck Depression Inventory-II, and Beck Hopelessness Scale were completed by both groups. Data analysis was performed using the independent ‎t-test and analysis of covariance. Results ACT significantly led to increased cognitive flexibility and its components (P=0.001) and reduced suicidal thoughts (P=0.001), depression (P=0.001) and hopelessness (P=0.002). Conclusion ACT group therapy can reduce depression, suicidal ideation and hopelessness in conscripts by increasing their cognitive flexibility.