Effect of acceptance and commitment therapy in improving interpersonal skills in adolescents: A randomized waitlist control trial

This parallel randomized controlled trial evaluated the effect of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) focused on repetitive negative thinking (RNT) versus a waitlist control (WLC) in improving interpersonal skills in adolescents with problems of social and school adaptation. Forty-two adolescents (11-17 years) agreed to participate. Participants were allocated through simple randomization to the intervention condition or the waitlist control condition. The intervention was a 3-session, group-based, RNT-focused ACT protocol. The primary outcome was the performance on a test of interpersonal skills (Interpersonal Conflict Resolution Assessment, ESCI). At posttreatment, repeated measures ANOVA showed that the intervention was efficacious in increasing overall interpersonal skills (d = 2.62), progress in values (d = 1.23), and reducing emotional symptoms (d = 0.98). No adverse events were found. A brief RNT-focused ACT intervention was highly efficacious in improving interpersonal skills and reducing emotional symptoms in adolescents.