Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for Anxiety, Depression, and Stress during COVID-19 Pandemic: A Narrative Review

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health crisis may have a long-lasting effect amidst people who went through loss of lives, self-quarantine, social distancing, job loss, the threat of illness, psychosocial and economic crisis. The dramatic increase of mental health difficulties makes psychotherapeutic assistance a vital need. Recent literature states that Acceptance Commitment Therapy is one of the effective methods to moderate psychological distress resulting from the uncertainties of a pandemic. In this study, we aim to identify literature on the effectiveness of ACT in treating anxiety, depression, and stress during the COVID-19 pandemic, and by doing so observe its effectiveness and potential use in pandemic like situations that may arise in the future. The narrative review method is adopted in the study. By focusing on acceptance, mindfulness, and values-based action, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) efficiently alleviates anxiety, depression, and stress that are associated to the COVID-19 pandemic. Small sample sizes, inconsistent evidence quality, a shortage of knowledge of long-term impacts, and a lack of attention to the therapeutic process are some of the study gaps, though. Future research should examine ACT protocols, provide manuals tailored to the pandemic, and look into technology-assisted psychotherapy like cyberpsychotherapy. Key words: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), COVID-19, anxiety, depression, stress.