Increase In Psychological Flexibility Research Articles

Reimagine Aging: A Process-Based Intervention to Decrease Internalized Ageism

Objectives Exposure to ageism may be internalized in older adults, and this can have severe consequences. However, little research has addressed reducing internalized ageism. Thus, Reimagine Aging, a 6-week process-based intervention to reduce internalized ageism, was designed and implemented, using education, acceptance and commitment therapy, and attributional retraining to target theoretically based mechanisms of change. Methods Seventy-two older adults (M = 70.4 years, SD = 6.4 years) participated in Reimagine Aging, consented to participate in this robust single-sample pilot study, and provided valid data. Participants completed questionnaires prior to, immediately following, and 2 months after the intervention. Results Participants’ self-perceptions of aging ( η p 2 =0.37, p < .001) and perceptions of older adults ( η p 2 =0.27, p < .001) became significantly more positive, associated with large effect sizes. Furthermore, these positive gains were mediated by increases in psychological flexibility, mindfulness, and perceived control. Discussion This study provides initial support for this process-based intervention targeting a reduction of internalized ageism. Clinical Implications This program has the potential to reduce the negative impact internalized ageism has on the health of older adults. Furthermore, it provides novel insights into intervention targets and tools that may be useful in achieving this reduction.

Acceptance and commitment therapy adapted for women with infertility: a pilot study of the Infertility ACTion program

BackgroundApproximately one in six couples are currently infertile, defined as unable to achieve pregnancy despite 12 or more months of active attempts to conceive. Experiencing infertility has been disproportionately associated with an array of psychological difficulties, particularly in women. However, currently available psychological interventions have had minimal benefits for distress, anxiety, or depression related to infertility.MethodsA one-arm pilot study was conducted to test the acceptability of a newly created acceptance and commitment therapy-based self-guided program—Infertility ACTion. Twenty women, located in Canada, completed the program and completed measures assessing expectancy of improvement, treatment credibility, participant satisfaction, treatment completion and retention, psychological flexibility, fertility quality of life, depression, and anxiety. Participants were also asked to provide feedback on how the researchers could improve the intervention. Paired sample t-tests were conducted to compare pre- and post-intervention outcomes.ResultsSixteen out of 20 participants completed the entire intervention. Reported treatment expectancy, credibility and satisfaction were favorable. Eighty-one percent of participants reported that they would recommend the program to a friend and 88% thought the program was worth their time. Medium increases in psychological flexibility and fertility quality of life were observed. Improvements in anxious and depressive symptoms were in the small to medium range but were not significant. Participants had several recommendations for program improvement.ConclusionsThis acceptance and commitment therapy-based self-guided program proved to be an acceptable treatment for infertility-related distress. Participant feedback will be used to adjust the current intervention in preparation for a more rigorous randomized-controlled trial testing this program.

The potential of 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine in the treatment of alcohol use disorder: A first look at therapeutic mechanisms of action.

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) remains one of the most prevalent psychiatric disorders worldwide with high economic costs. Current treatment options show modest efficacy and relapse rates are high. Furthermore, there are increases in the treatment gap and few new medications have been approved in the past 20 years. Recently, psychedelic-assisted therapy with psilocybin and lysergic acid diethylamide has garnered significant attention in the treatment of AUD. Yet, they require significant amounts of therapist input due to prolonged subjective effects (~4-12 h) leading to high costs and impeding implementation. Accordingly, there is an increasing interest in the rapid and short-acting psychedelic 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT). This paper offers a first look at potential therapeutic mechanisms for AUD by reviewing the current literature on 5-MeO-DMT. Primarily, 5-MeO-DMT is able to induce mystical experiences and ego-dissolution together with increases in psychological flexibility and mindfulness. This could decrease AUD symptoms through the alleviation of psychiatric mood-related comorbidities consistent with the negative reinforcement and self-medication paradigms. In addition, preliminary evidence indicates that 5-MeO-DMT modulates neural oscillations that might subserve ego-dissolution (increases in gamma), psychological flexibility and mindfulness (increases in theta), and the reorganization of executive control networks (increases in coherence across frequencies) that could improve emotion regulation and inhibition. Finally, animal studies show that 5-MeO-DMT is characterized by neuroplasticity, anti-inflammation, 5-HT2A receptor agonism, and downregulation of metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 with clinical implications for AUD and psychiatric mood-related comorbidities. The paper concludes with several recommendations for future research to establish the purported therapeutic mechanisms of action.

Reduction of alcohol use and increase in psychological flexibility after a naturalistic psychedelic experience: a retrospective survey.

Alcohol use can be significantly associated with negative social, professional, and health outcomes. Even more so, alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a critical public health issue and major avoidable risk factor. This study aimed to examine the effect of a naturalistic psychedelic experience on alcohol use and related measures. A retrospective online survey was conducted on 160 individuals who reported a psychedelic experience and a concomitant drinking habit but did not necessarily have an AUD. Demographic data, characteristics of the psychedelic experience, and changes in alcohol consumption and psychological flexibility were surveyed. Results: The mean number of drinking days per week and AUDIT scores significantly decreased after the psychedelic experience (P < .001). Subjects who quit or reduced drinking had a more severe AUD (P < .01) and lower psychological flexibility (P = .003) before the psychedelic session. Alcohol use reduction was significantly associated with the intensity of the mystical experience (P = .03). Psychological flexibility increased more in participants who reduced their alcohol use (P < .001), and the change in psychological flexibility was one of the predictors of alcohol use improvement (P = .003). Conclusion: Our findings suggest that a naturalistic psychedelic experience could be associated with a reduction in alcohol use and dependency. Such positive health outcomes can be associated with the intensity of the mystical experience as well as an increase in psychological flexibility.

Acceptance and commitment training for reducing burnout in medical students during a clinical clerkship in psychiatry and palliative care: A pilot study

Physicians are likely to experience burnout early in their medical education, and it only accelerates as their clinical and academic responsibilities expand and they begin clinical practice. However, effective burnout interventions for clinical-year medical students are lacking. Avoidance of unpleasant internal experiences and decreased engagement in value-based behaviors are associated with burnout. This study, an open-label pilot research with a single-center, before-and-after comparative study design and without a control group, aimed to examine the feasibility and effectiveness of brief acceptance and commitment training (ACT) in reducing burnout during psychiatric clinical clerkships at a medical school. The feasibility proved to be good, with all the participants (n = 56) completing the training. There were no significant differences in the emotional exhaustion (EE) and depersonalization (DP) scores of burnout as measured by the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) at the end of the ACT and two months following the intervention. A comparison was made with scores recorded before the intervention, and significant differences were observed. A subsample of medical students with moderate or greater burnout at T0 manifested significant burnout score reductions. The same subsample revealed a significant increase in psychological flexibility as indicated by the progress factor score on the Valuing Questionnaire (VQ) at T1 compared to T0 and a significant reduction in reaction latency to negative words as indicated by the DIRAP score of the Implicit Relational Assessment Procedure (IRAP) for anxiety. We argue that short-term ACT during clinical clerkships of medical students in psychiatry and palliative care is feasible and potentially effective, and a multi-site comparative study using more direct behavioral measures is warranted to further investigate its effectiveness.

Investigating the associations of acute psychedelic experiences and changes in racial trauma symptoms, psychological flexibility, and substance use among People with Racial and Ethnic Minoritized Identities in the United States and Canada

IntroductionEvidence suggests that psychedelics may serve as a therapeutic approach to reduce substance use; however, people with racial and ethnic minoritized (REM) identities are often excluded from this research. We investigated whether psychedelic use affects other substance use among REM people and whether perceived changes in psychological flexibility and racial trauma mediates this association. MethodsREM people in the United States and Canada (N = 211; 32 % Black, 29 % Asian, 18 % American Indian/Indigenous Canadian, 21 % Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander; 57 % female; mean age = 33.1, SD = 11.2) completed an online survey retrospectively reporting their substance use, psychological flexibility, and racial trauma symptoms 30 days before and after their most memorable psychedelic experience. ResultsAnalyses showed a significant perceived reduction in alcohol (p < .0001, d = 0.54) and drug use (p = .0001, d = 0.23) from before to after the psychedelic experience. Preliminary associations found perceived reductions in racial trauma symptoms were associated with perceived reductions in alcohol use and this association varied by race, dose, ethnic identity, and change in depressive symptoms. Specifically, Indigenous participants experienced greater perceived reductions in alcohol use relative to participants who identified as Asian, Black, or other. Those who took a high dose of psychedelics experienced greater perceived reductions in alcohol use relative to those who took a low dose. Participants with a stronger ethnic identity and those with a perceived reduction in depressive symptoms experienced a perceived reduction in alcohol use. Serial mediation indicated a perceived increase in psychological flexibility and reduction in racial trauma symptoms mediated the association between acute psychedelic effects and perceived reductions in alcohol and drug use. ConclusionThese findings suggest that psychedelic experiences may contribute to an increase in psychological flexibility and reduction in racial trauma symptoms and alcohol and drug use among REM people. REM people have been largely excluded from psychedelic treatment research even though psychedelic use is considered a traditional healing practice in many communities of color. Longitudinal studies of REM people should replicate our findings.

Effectiveness of ACT-based intervention in compliance with the model for sustainable mental health: A cluster randomized control trial in a group of older adults

IntroductionEpidemiological studies among older adults have demonstrated high rates of subclinical anxiety and depression. This is accompanied by increased distress related to aging and everyday life challenges, thus affecting wellbeing and increasing the risk of developing full mental disorders. This highlights the need for psychological interventions to focus on mental health and improve wellbeing in this population in compliance with the Model for Sustainable Mental Health framework. MethodsThis study investigated the effectiveness of an acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) program through a cluster randomized controlled trial in a group of older adults in Poland. The participants lived in rural areas and small towns, with minimal or no opportunities to obtain psychological support. The total of 100 older adults were included in the study and randomized to either a 12-week ACT-based training programme or to a control group that participated in Positive Psychology Intervention (PPI). ResultsThe statistical analyses showed that ACT intervention decreased psychopathological symptoms while increasing quality of life. The increases in psychological flexibility, acceptance, defusion, and present moment were statistically significant mediators in the relationship between group membership and increased quality of life. There were also significant decreases in stress, anxiety, and depression among participants exposed to the PPI component. DiscussionThe ACT intervention should help address the issues of mental health and wellbeing in older adults. The training programme increased the quality of life for participants in line with the WHO agenda concerning support for older adults, thus reflecting the conditions outlined in the Model for Sustainable Mental Health.

An Acceptance and Commitment Training (ACT) Framework for Teaching Cultural Humility: A Guide for Translating ACT from a Therapeutic Context into a Medical Education Curriculum.

The objective of this project was to train future physicians to work effectively and thoughtfully with diverse populations by teaching them to employ Acceptance and Commitment Training (ACT) skills to increase cultural humility, with the goal of improving attitudes, knowledge, and beliefs about working with diverse patients. We developed ACT for cultural humility online interactive modules as part of an elective course to teach Medical Spanish to 4th-year medical students. Pre- and post-pilot data pertaining to the cultural humility training modules on the Work-Related Acceptance and Action questionnaire, Multidimensional Cultural Humility Scale, knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs were analyzed using paired samples t-tests and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests. We also included descriptive data pertaining to overall satisfaction with the cultural humility modules and intent to apply the material learned to patient care. Our data showed a significant increase in the cultural humility of our participants as well as an increase in psychological flexibility, a higher favorability rating toward various ethnicities, improvements in attitude, and positive changes in beliefs and knowledge following completion of the modules. The modules were well received by the medical students, with high social validity ratings. The ACT for cultural humility curriculum has great potential to enhance medical education in diversity, equity, and inclusion by increasing both the understanding and the cultural humility of medical students and future professionals to work with diverse populations. The current paper provides a framework that can be used by other programs to shape the education of the future medical workforce to help promote culturally humble care.

What helps distressed Australian adolescents impacted by cancer? Mechanisms of improvement of the PEER program.

PEER is a four-day residential program for adolescents impacted by their own or a relative's cancer, with both psychosocial (acceptance and commitment therapy, self-compassion) and recreational components. This study aimed to determine whether previously observed improvements in quality of life amongst highly distressed participants were mediated by improvements in processes targeted by psychotherapeutic elements of the program (psychological flexibility, mindfulness, self-compassion, peer support, distress). Adolescents attending PEER completed surveys assessing the quality of life and proposed mediator variables at pre-program, post-program and two-month follow-up. Adolescents experiencing high/very high levels of baseline distress (n= 52; 5 patients/survivors, 31 siblings/offspring, 13 bereaved siblings/offspring) were previously identified as experiencing clinically significant improvements in psychosocial well-being; here, mediation analyses explored whether these improvements were associated with improvements in process variables. Findings evidenced improvements in quality of life amongst distressed PEER participants, mediated by increases in psychological flexibility and self-compassion, and reductions in distress. Peer support and mindfulness were not significant mediators. Together, this suggests that the psychosocial benefits of PEER observed for highly distressed adolescents are linked to the specific therapeutic approaches used in the program, rather than being non-specific effects of peer connection or recreation. Findings from this evaluation provide further evidence for the efficacy and mechanisms of the effect of PEER for supporting distressed adolescents impacted by cancer. The study also demonstrates the viability and utility of the therapeutic approaches (acceptance and commitment therapy, self-compassion) used, showing that they have psychosocial benefits for this population.

Prospective examination of the therapeutic role of psychological flexibility and cognitive reappraisal in the ceremonial use of ayahuasca.

Evidence suggests that psychedelic-assisted therapy carries transdiagnostic efficacy in the treatment of mental health conditions characterized by low mood and the use of avoidance coping strategies. While preliminary evidence suggests that psychological flexibility and emotion regulation processes play an important role within psychedelic therapy, this prospective study addressed methodological gaps in the literature and examined the ability of ayahuasca to stimulate acute states of cognitive reappraisal and long-term changes in psychological flexibility and mood. The study also explored whether moderating factors predisposed participants to experience therapeutic changes. Participants (N = 261) were recruited from three Shipibo ayahuasca retreat centers in Central and South America and completed assessments on mood, psychological flexibility, and acute ceremonial factors. Expectancy, demand characteristics, and invalid responding were controlled for with several validity scales. Participants reported significant reductions in negative mood after three months, as well as increases in positive mood and psychological flexibility. Acute experiences of reappraisal during the ayahuasca ceremony exerted the strongest moderating effects on increases in positive mood and psychological flexibility. Increases in psychological flexibility statistically mediated the effects of acute psychological factors, including reappraisal, on changes in positive mood. These results highlight the role of acute psychological processes, such as reappraisal, and post-acute increases in psychological flexibility as putative mechanisms underlying positive outcomes associated with psychedelics. These results also provide support for the integration of third-wave and mindfulness-based therapy approaches with psychedelic-assisted interventions.

Psychedelic treatment for co-occurring alcohol misuse and post-traumatic stress symptoms among United States Special Operations Forces Veterans

AbstractBackground&amp;aimsSpecial Operations Forces Veterans (SOFV) have unique treatment needs stemming from multiple repeated forms of combat exposure resulting in a complex sequela of problems including alcohol misuse and post-traumatic stress symptoms. Current approved pharmacologic treatments for alcohol misuse and PTSD are lacking in adherence and efficacy, warranting novel treatment development. The current study examined the correlations between psychedelic treatment and changes in alcohol misuse among trauma exposed United States SOFV.MethodAn anonymous internet-based survey was conducted among SOFV who completed a specific psychedelic clinical program in Mexico. Retrospective questions probed alcohol use and post-traumatic stress symptoms during the 30-days before and 30-days after the psychedelic treatment. A total of 65 SOFV completed treatment and were eligible for contact. Of these, 51 (78%) completed the survey, and 27 (42%) reported alcohol misuse (≥4 on the AUDIT-C) in the 30 days prior to treatment and were included in analyses (Mean Age = 40; male = 96%; Caucasian/White = 96%).ResultsThere were significant and very large reductions in retrospective reports of alcohol use (P&lt; 0.001;d= –2.4) and post-traumatic stress symptoms (P&lt; 0.001;d= –2.8) and a significant and large increase in psychological flexibility (P&lt; 0.001;d= –1.8), from before-to-after the psychedelic treatment. In the 30 days after treatment, 85% reduced their alcohol consumption to non-risky levels (33% abstinent; 52% non-risky drinking). Increases in psychological flexibility were strongly associated with reductions in alcohol use and post-traumatic stress symptoms (rs range 0.38–0.90; ps &lt; 0.05).ConclusionRigorous longitudinal studies should be conducted to determine whether psychedelic-assisted therapy holds promise as an intervention in this population.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy in Group Format for College Students

We randomly assigned 71 student participants to an acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) group training or to a wait list. All participants completed measures at preintervention, 1‐month postintervention, and 2‐month follow‐up. Students receiving ACT exhibited significantly reduced levels of general psychological distress and negative emotional symptoms at follow‐up. Mental health outcomes for ACT were mediated by increases in psychological flexibility and mindfulness. Results suggest that ACT group training could be an effective mental health intervention in educational settings.

Can peer-tutored psychological flexibility training facilitate physical activity among adults with overweight?

ObjectiveAn increase in psychological flexibility has been found to be associated with health behavior changes. Peer-led interventions have been advantageous in improving physical activity among individuals at health risk. This study aimed to discover whether an ACT-based peer-tutored online intervention can increase self-reported physical activity participation and psychological flexibility among adults with overweight. DesignThe study was a non-randomized longitudinal intervention study. The intervention participants (N = 177) were primary health care clients with overweight. They participated in a 24-month program provided by health services, including three online modules of ACT of six week each, and tutoring by trained peers via five group meetings and four phone calls. Main outcome measures and resultsPhysical activity participation was measured with Kasari's FIT index concerning the frequency, intensity and time of the physical activity. Psychological flexibility was measured with AAQ-II, and thought suppression, as a dimension of psychological flexibility, with WBSI. Measures were taken at baseline, and at 6, 12, and 24 months. The statistical analysis was conducted with Mplus to identify latent groups with similar change patterns of physical activity, and to examine differences between the profiles. Two change profiles for physical activity participation were found: Low and High. At baseline in High profile group, physical activity and psychological flexibility were higher and thought suppression was lower than they were in Low profile group, as was expressing other psychological symptoms measured by DASS. During the intervention, physical activity increased significantly only within Low profile (within Cohen's d = .48). Psychological flexibility (AAQ-II) increased within High profile (within Cohen's d = .34), and thought suppression (WBSI) decreased in both profiles (within Cohen's d = .33). ConclusionThe ACT-based peer-tutored online intervention was promising especially for participants with low physical activity participation.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: A Case Study.

Recent years have witnessed an increased interest in the use of “third-wave” psychotherapies in treating psychiatric disorders. These newer therapies are fundamentally different from the existing techniques such as cognitive behavioral therapy in terms of their guiding principles and processes of change. Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is the most prominent among these “third wave” psychotherapies. However, there have not been any reports from India, thus far, that have studied the use of ACT in treating obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD). We describe a case of OCD that was successfully treated with eight sessions of ACT, with the results being maintained over a one-month follow-up period. Postintervention tests revealed a significant decrease in obsessive–compulsive symptoms and an associated increase in psychological flexibility. This case study highlights the possible utility of ACT as a therapeutic intervention in OCD, especially when combined with pharmacotherapy.

Mindfulness-based Therapeutic Sailing for Veterans With Psychiatric and Substance Use Disorders.

Complementary interventions have the potential to enhance treatment engagement and/or response among veterans with psychiatric disorders and/or substance use disorders (SUDs). Mindfulness-based therapeutic sailing (MBTS) is a novel three-session, complementary intervention, which combines nature exposure via recreational sailing and mindfulness training. It was developed specifically to augment both treatment response and engagement among veterans with psychiatric disorders or SUDs. The study reports a follow-up investigation of a version of MBTS modified based upon a previous initial pilot study. This is an institutional review board-approved study of 25 veterans, 23 males and 2 females, who participated in MBTS along with a diagnosis-, gender-, and age-matched control group. All participants had at least one psychiatric disorder or SUD and most (92%) had two or more conditions, with the most common being any SUD (76%) and PTSD (72%). Instruments used to evaluate within-subjects pre- to post-intervention psychological changes were the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire II (AAQII), the Toronto Mindfulness Scale (TMS), and the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ). The Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale (PACES) was administered to evaluate how much the participants enjoyed the intervention. Outcome measures were collected for 1-year pre-intervention and 1-year post-intervention for between-subject analyses. These were numbers of medical and psychiatric hospitalizations, emergency department visits, mental health (MH) and substance abuse treatment visits, and MH and substance abuse treatment failed appointments. Data analysis consisted of using paired, two-tailed t-tests on psychological instrument results, Poisson regression on discrete outcome measures, and chi-square test of independence on demographic factors. Within-subjects comparisons revealed significant mean pre- to post-intervention increases in AAQII (P = .04) and TMS scores (P = .009). The FFMQ scores increased but the change was nonsignificant (P = .12). The PACES scores were high for all sessions, indicating enjoyment of the intervention by participants. Although the coefficient was nonsignificant, Poisson regression uncovered reduction in substance abuse treatment visits post-intervention. There were no significant differences for the other variables. For demographic factors, the differences between intervention and control groups were not statistically significant. The MBTS is associated with increases in psychological flexibility (AAQII) and state mindfulness (TMS). The intervention was perceived as pleasurable by participants (PACES) and is potentially associated with decreased utilization of substance use treatment services. These results must be considered as preliminary; however, these finding corroborate results from a previous pilot study and indicate that MBTS holds promise as a complementary intervention that could result in enhanced treatment engagement and/or outcomes for the population studied. A randomized controlled trial of MBTS is warranted. Further, the model of a three-session intervention combining mindfulness training with nature exposure could be adapted for other types of nature exposure, such as hiking or snowshoeing or other complementary interventions including equine-assisted activities and therapies.

Social support and its relationship to psychological resilience for students with visual impairment: المساندة الاجتماعية وعلاقتها بالمرونة النفسية لدى الطلبة ذوي الإعاقة البصرية

The research aimed to identify the extent of social support contributes to the psychological flexibility among students with visual impairment at Omar bin Al Khattab Institute for Blind. The research sample consists of (120) male and female students. The research used the relational descriptive method. Two scales were used: the Psychological Resilience Scale for Al-Salahi (2017), and the Hamri and Medani Social Support Scale (2016). The study showed that the sample is having medium of psychological flexibility with different dimensions. The results also showed a lack of statistically significant differences between males and females in the average of psychological flexibility. The results indicated that there is a statistically significant positive relationship between psychological flexibility and social support, and that both dimensions of support provided by blind and non-blind friends contribute significantly to predicting the increase in psychological flexibility in the study sample. The study recommended to increase and improve the level of formal and informal social services for the visual impairment category in the Sultanate of Oman and conduct more studies and researches on physiological flexibility in the light of physiological and social variables with visual impairment category.

Development of the Psychological Insight Questionnaire among a sample of people who have consumed psilocybin or LSD.

Background:Several measures have been developed to examine acute psychedelic effects (e.g. mystical-type and challenging experiences), but no measure assesses acute psychologically insightful experiences that may occur during psychedelic experiences.Aim:The purpose of this study was to develop and examine the psychometric properties of the Psychological Insight Questionnaire.Method:A cross-sectional survey study among psilocybin and LSD users. Respondents (n=1661; Mage=22.9, standard deviation=8.5; Caucasian/White=83%; non-Hispanic=91%; men=72%; United States resident=66%) completed an Internet-based survey.Results:The Psychological Insight Questionnaire consists of 23 items with two subscales: (a) Avoidance and Maladaptive Patterns Insights and (b) Goals and Adaptive Patterns Insights. Construct validity of the Psychological Insight Questionnaire was supported by strong correlations of the Psychological Insight Questionnaire (and Avoidance and Maladaptive Patterns Insights and Goals and Adaptive Patterns Insights subscales) scores with the insight subscale of the Session Impacts Scale, and weak-to-moderate correlations with the Mystical Experiences and Challenging Experiences Questionnaires. Furthermore, Psychological Insight Questionnaire (and Avoidance and Maladaptive Patterns Insights and Goals and Adaptive Patterns Insights subscales) scores were moderately-to-strongly correlated with retrospectively reported increases in psychological flexibility, and well-being/life satisfaction that were attributed to a memorable psychedelic experience. Lastly, incremental validity was established showing that the Psychological Insight Questionnaire (and Avoidance and Maladaptive Patterns Insights subscale) scores predict unique variance in changes in psychological flexibility, and Psychological Insight Questionnaire (and Avoidance and Maladaptive Patterns Insights and Goals and Adaptive Patterns Insights subscales) scores predict changes in well-being and life satisfaction, beyond measures of acute mystical-type and challenging effects.Conclusions:The Psychological Insight Questionnaire has the potential to extend the understanding of the acute and enduring effects of psychedelics. Further longitudinal research is necessary to determine the long-term predictive validity of the Psychological Insight Questionnaire and to examine the role of psychological insight in predicting therapeutic outcomes.

Increases in Psychological Flexibility Mediate Relationship Between Acute Psychedelic Effects and Decreases in Racial Trauma Symptoms Among People of Color

Background Previous research showed acute psychedelic effects were associated with decreases in racial trauma (RT) symptoms among black, indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC). Among samples comprised primarily of white participants, positive outcomes of psychedelic experiences have been mediated by increases in psychological flexibility. Therefore, we examined whether changes in psychological flexibility from before to after a psychedelic experience mediated the relationship between acute psychedelic effects and changes in RT symptoms among BIPOC. Methods This cross-sectional online survey study included 313 BIPOC (mean age = 33.1; SD = 11.2; female = 57%). A multiple linear regression analysis was used to examine the association between acute psychedelic effects and decreases in RT symptoms in a nonclinical setting; a path analysis was used to explore whether changes in psychological flexibility mediated this relationship. Results Acute insight and challenging effects were significantly (p < .001) associated with decreases in RT symptoms following a psychedelic experience. Increases in psychological flexibility partially mediated relationships between greater intensity of psychological insight and less intensity of challenging experiences and decreases in RT symptoms (ps<.001). Conclusion This research suggests psychedelics confer potential benefits in decreasing RT symptoms among BIPOC and psychological flexibility may be an important mediator of these effects. Future research should test this hypothesis in a longitudinal clinical trial among BIPOC.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Drug Use: A Systematic Review

Abstract The harmful use of psychoactive substances has been considered one of the biggest public health issues. Several approaches are used for the treatment of disorders related to substance use in the face of the challenges imposed. This study aimed to identify the empirical works that used ACT for the treatment of substance use and their respective results regarding acceptance, feasibility, and reduction in the severity of dependence, as well as the results related to comorbidities and other aspects associated with drugs use by a systematic review of the literature on the subject, using the recommendations of the Preferred Report Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guide and searches in PubMed, APA PsycNET, SciELO, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, VHL, and LILACS. In total, 17 studies were analyzed, allowing the observation of an increase in psychological flexibility, attenuation of treatment dropout rates, and a reduction in substance use in the analyzed interventions.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: A Systematic Literature Review of Prevention and Intervention Programs for Mental Health Difficulties in Children and Young People.

Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is increasingly being used to treat mental health difficulties, however there is a paucity of reviews concerning ACT with children. To examine the literature about ACT interventions for child and adolescent mental well-being. Searches for articles reporting on ACT interventions to prevent/reduce child mental health difficulties were undertaken. Methodological quality was assessed and a narrative synthesis was used to summarize findings about mental health symptoms and psychological flexibility. Ten articles were identified focusing on prevention and intervention for anxiety, depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, anorexia nervosa, and trichotillomania. Most studies found that mental health symptoms reduced following an ACT intervention and psychological flexibility increased. However, findings indicate that other active interventions also led to the same changes. ACT is a promising intervention for adolescent mental health, although further research is needed to establish whether reductions in mental health symptoms are due to an increase in psychological flexibility.