The Effect of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) on Depression in University Students Considering Their Level of Psychospiritual Development: A Single-Case Study

Depression is one of the most prevalent mental disorders, making the selection of effective treatment approaches critically important. Given the role of spirituality in depression and its treatment, this study aimed to examine the impact of individuals’ psychospiritual development on the effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) using a single-case study design. Four students diagnosed with major depression were selected from Tarbiat Modares University through convenience sampling. Based on the Psychospiritual Development Scale [۱], participants were divided into two groups of two individuals each: high psychospiritual development and low psychospiritual development. Each participant received ACT tailored to their respective level of psychospiritual development. Depression scores were measured using the Beck Depression Inventory before, during, and after the intervention, as well as at a three-month follow-up. Changes were evaluated using improvement percentages and effect sizes. The results indicated that ACT effectively reduced depression in students; however, its impact was greater in students with lower levels of psychospiritual development. These findings suggest that considering the psychospiritual development level of clients is crucial when selecting an appropriate therapeutic approach.

کلیدواژه ها:

depression ، Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) ، Psychospiritual Development