Review

Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) in Group Format on Depressive Symptoms: Systematic Review

Volume: 18 Number: 3 April 15, 2026
TR EN

Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) in Group Format on Depressive Symptoms: Systematic Review

Abstract

This study aims to systematically review randomized controlled trials that evaluate the effectiveness of group Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) in treating depressive symptoms. Studies published between January 2004 and June 2025 in English and Turkish languages were searched in databases such as Medline, PsycArticles, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and TR Index. Ultimately, 17 studies meeting the inclusion criteria were included in this systematic review. In the studies, the intervention ranged from a minimum of 4 sessions to a maximum of 12 sessions. Most commonly, the interventions were implemented over 8 sessions. The studies included in this review utilized standardized measurement scales. Findings suggest that group-based Acceptance and Commitment Therapy is effective in reducing depressive symptoms and that this effect persists at follow-up measurements. As a result, group-based Acceptance and Commitment Therapy was found to be effective in treating depressive symptoms. Although most of the included studies had limited sample sizes and heterogeneous gender distribution, the inclusion of diverse groups -such as cancer patients, military personnel, and menopausal women- increases the generalizability of the findings. The results are clinically important because group therapy interventions are cost-effective and increase access to effective treatment for individuals.

Keywords

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Psychopathology, Clinical Psychology, Psychotherapy Practise and Research

Journal Section

Review

Early Pub Date

December 11, 2025

Publication Date

April 15, 2026

Submission Date

July 31, 2025

Acceptance Date

October 30, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 18 Number: 3

APA
Yüncü, Ö., Arıtürk, S., & Şahin, M. (2026). Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) in Group Format on Depressive Symptoms: Systematic Review. Psikiyatride Güncel Yaklaşımlar, 18(3), 1041-1062. https://doi.org/10.18863/pgy.1754191
AMA
1.Yüncü Ö, Arıtürk S, Şahin M. Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) in Group Format on Depressive Symptoms: Systematic Review. Psikiyatride Güncel Yaklaşımlar - Current Approaches in Psychiatry. 2026;18(3):1041-1062. doi:10.18863/pgy.1754191
Chicago
Yüncü, Ömer, Seda Arıtürk, and Mustafa Şahin. 2026. “Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) in Group Format on Depressive Symptoms: Systematic Review”. Psikiyatride Güncel Yaklaşımlar 18 (3): 1041-62. https://doi.org/10.18863/pgy.1754191.
EndNote
Yüncü Ö, Arıtürk S, Şahin M (April 1, 2026) Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) in Group Format on Depressive Symptoms: Systematic Review. Psikiyatride Güncel Yaklaşımlar 18 3 1041–1062.
IEEE
[1]Ö. Yüncü, S. Arıtürk, and M. Şahin, “Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) in Group Format on Depressive Symptoms: Systematic Review”, Psikiyatride Güncel Yaklaşımlar - Current Approaches in Psychiatry, vol. 18, no. 3, pp. 1041–1062, Apr. 2026, doi: 10.18863/pgy.1754191.
ISNAD
Yüncü, Ömer - Arıtürk, Seda - Şahin, Mustafa. “Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) in Group Format on Depressive Symptoms: Systematic Review”. Psikiyatride Güncel Yaklaşımlar 18/3 (April 1, 2026): 1041-1062. https://doi.org/10.18863/pgy.1754191.
JAMA
1.Yüncü Ö, Arıtürk S, Şahin M. Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) in Group Format on Depressive Symptoms: Systematic Review. Psikiyatride Güncel Yaklaşımlar - Current Approaches in Psychiatry. 2026;18:1041–1062.
MLA
Yüncü, Ömer, et al. “Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) in Group Format on Depressive Symptoms: Systematic Review”. Psikiyatride Güncel Yaklaşımlar, vol. 18, no. 3, Apr. 2026, pp. 1041-62, doi:10.18863/pgy.1754191.
Vancouver
1.Ömer Yüncü, Seda Arıtürk, Mustafa Şahin. Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) in Group Format on Depressive Symptoms: Systematic Review. Psikiyatride Güncel Yaklaşımlar - Current Approaches in Psychiatry. 2026 Apr. 1;18(3):1041-62. doi:10.18863/pgy.1754191
 
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