The Effect of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) on Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms, Somatization, and Chronic Fatigue in Patients with Depression: A Quasi-Experimental Study

Aim: The present study aimed to investigate the effect of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) on obsessive-compulsive symptoms, somatization, and chronic fatigue in patients with major depressive disorder. Methods: This quasi-experimental study utilized a pretest-posttest design with a control group. Thirty participants with major depressive disorder were selected through purposive sampling from Imam Reza Clinic in Shahrekord (۲۰۲۱) and randomly assigned to experimental (n=۱۵) and control (n=۱۵) groups. The experimental group received eight ۹۰-minute weekly group sessions of ACT, while the control group received routine clinic visits only. Data were collected using the Maudsley Obsessive-Compulsive Questionnaire (MOCQ), Chalder Fatigue Scale (CFS), and Patient Health Questionnaire-۱۵ (PHQ-۱۵). Multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) was used for data analysis in SPSS-۲۴. Results: MANCOVA results revealed a statistically significant difference between the experimental and control groups in post-test scores (P=۰.۰۱), while controlling for pretest scores. Significant reductions were observed specifically in the experimental group across all three outcome measures: obsessive-compulsive symptoms (F=۴۷۳.۰۸, p<۰.۰۰۱, η²=۰.۶۷), chronic fatigue (F=۴۰۲.۹۷, p<۰.۰۰۱, η²=۰.۵۹), and somatization (F=۴۵۸.۰۹, p<۰.۰۰۱, η²=۰.۳۱). The large effect sizes indicate both statistical significance and clinical meaningfulness of the findings. Conclusion: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy appears to be an effective intervention for reducing comorbid obsessive-compulsive symptoms, somatization, and chronic fatigue in patients with depression. These findings support the integration of ACT as a complementary treatment in clinical settings, particularly for patients with complex symptomatology. Future studies with larger samples and longer follow-up periods are recommended to confirm these findings and examine long-term outcomes.

کلیدواژه ها:

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy ، obsessive-compulsive symptoms ، somatization ، chronic fatigue ، individuals with depression