Education Commons^™

A Randomized Trial Of Acceptance And Commitment Therapy And Traditional Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Self-Help Books For Social Anxiety, Jennifer Krafft, Michael P. Twohig, Michael E. Levin

Psychology Faculty Publications

Background: Self-help resources such as books may help meet critical mental health needs in college students, but there is insufficient evidence on whether and how such books work. This randomized trial compared acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and traditional cognitive behavior therapy (tCBT) self-help books for social anxiety, a common concern with notable barriers to treatment seeking.

Methods: A sample of college students (n = 102) with social anxiety was randomly assigned to use one of the two self-help books over eight weeks.

Results: Improvements were observed in both conditions across all outcomes (social anxiety, general well-being, and social …

A Randomized Dismantling Trial Of The Open And Engaged Components Of Acceptance And Commitment Therapy In An Online Intervention For Distressed College Students, Michael E. Levin, Jennifer Krafft, Elizabeth T. Hicks, Michael P. Twohig, Benjamin G. Pierce

Psychology Faculty Publications

This dismantling trial compared the effects of a full online Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) intervention to the isolated effects of the Open (i.e., acceptance, cognitive defusion) and Engaged (i.e., values, committed action) components of ACT. A sample of 181 distressed college students were randomized to one of four conditions: a 12-session full ACT website (Full), a version targeting the Open components (Open), a version targeting the Engaged components (Engaged), or waitlist. Participants in active conditions were also randomized to receive phone coaching or just email prompts to increase program adherence. All three ACT conditions significantly improved over time relative …

Pilot Evaluation Of The Stop, Breathe & Think Mindfulness App For Student Clients On A College Counseling Center Waitlist, Michael E. Levin, Elizabeth T. Hicks, Jennifer Krafft

Psychology Faculty Publications

Objectives: College counseling centers face significant challenges meeting the mental health needs of their students and waitlists are common. Mobile apps offer a promising solution to increase access to resources while students wait for services. Methods: This pilot randomized controlled trial evaluated the feasibility and acceptability of a publicly available mindfulness app. Students on a counseling center waitlist (n=23) were randomized to use the app or not, with assessments completed over four weeks. Results: Recruitment over three semesters was slow, leading to an underpowered trial. Participants reported high satisfaction and moderate app usage. Very preliminary support was found for potential …

Examining Processes Of Change In An Online Acceptance And Commitment Therapy Dismantling Trial With Distressed College Students, Michael E. Levin, Jennifer Krafft, Michael P. Twohig

Psychology Faculty Publications

This secondary analysis examined the processes of change from a randomized dismantling trial evaluating the Open (i.e., cognitive defusion, acceptance) and Engaged (i.e., values, committed action) components of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). Analyses were conducted with 161 distressed college students randomly assigned to a full online ACT program (Full n=40), online ACT targeting the Open components (Open n=41) or targeting the Engaged components (Engaged n=39), or a waitlist condition (Waitlist n=41). The intervention occurred over six weeks followed by a post-treatment assessment with mental health symptoms as the primary outcome. Consistent with predictions, pre- to …